Actually, Starliner might fly into space this year

Key Points:

• Boeing is making progress on fixing the propulsion system issues that caused the 2024 Starliner crewed flight to be classified as a “Type A” mishap, with CEO Kelly Ortberg stating the redesign is “going quite well.”
• The main remaining hurdle for Starliner’s next cargo mission to the ISS is scheduling a launch date with NASA, dependent on docking port availability, making a 2024 launch possible and a crewed mission feasible by late 2027 if tests succeed.
• Boeing faces financial pressure from delays, having incurred about $2 billion in charges under its fixed-price NASA Commercial Crew contract, with further delays risking additional losses.
• Starliner’s future faces challenges including its costly expendable Service Module, lack of a long-term launch vehicle after Atlas V’s retirement, and competition from SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, which is preferred for reliability and cost but is planned for retirement by 2030.
• The broader human spaceflight market in low-Earth orbit is entering a complex phase, with SpaceX moving towards Starship, Boeing’s uncertain Starliner prospects, and rising costs expected for crew transportation in the 2030s compared to the 2020s.