NASA Sets New Timeline for Boeing Starliner After Troubled 2024 Flight
NASA has laid out a new timetable for Boeing's Starliner spacecraft after its troubled 2024 crewed test flight, with outlets differing on how much emphasis to place on the program's past problems.
What happened
NASA announced plans for new missions using Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, the first since the vessel's 2024 test flight left two astronauts stranded at the ISS for months.14
According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, the agency plans an uncrewed Starliner flight to the ISS in 2027 and a crewed flight by 2028.2
The Register reported that Starliner-1 could fly as soon as January, with astronauts potentially following by 2028 if the mission proceeds successfully.3
Starliner was last used in June 2024 to carry astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to the ISS on a mission originally planned to last eight to 14 days.4
What's agreed
Reported consistently by outlets in more than one region.
- NASA announced new missions using Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, following the vessel's problematic test flight that left astronauts stranded at the ISS for months.14
- NASA's plans reportedly include an uncrewed Starliner flight and a later crewed flight to the ISS, with the crewed mission targeted by 2028.23
Where accounts differ
Each account is attributed to who makes it. We do not judge between them.
How it's framed
What each perspective puts first, based on headlines and summaries.
| Perspective | How it reads | What it puts first |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese state mediaEast Asia | Reports the announcement straightforwardly, framing it against the backdrop of the botched test flight that stranded astronauts, with minimal additional editorializing noted in the snippet.1 | botched test flight, astronauts stranded |
| Russian state mediaRussia & Eurasia | Focuses on the specific timeline given by NASA's administrator, presenting the uncrewed and crewed flight dates as official statements without additional commentary.2 | 2027 uncrewed flight, 2028 crewed flight, NASA administrator's statement |
| UK-based technology pressEurope | Uses pointed language to characterize Starliner's troubled history while noting the near-term opportunity for Boeing, presenting a mixed tone that highlights both the program's problems and its prospects.3 | Boeing's troubled history, near-term launch conditional on success, ISS taxi business |
| Indian private pressSouth Asia | Provides background detail on the June 2024 mission's original timeline and the astronauts involved, framing the new announcement within that context.4 | June 2024 mission background, original eight-to-14 day plan, astronaut names |
What the coverage leaves out
- None of the outlets reviewed detailed the technical fixes or changes NASA and Boeing are making to Starliner ahead of the next flights.
- None of the outlets reviewed reported Boeing's own statement or response to the announcement.
- None of the outlets reviewed specified the total cost or budget implications of the new Starliner missions.
Why it matters
Starliner's June 2024 crewed test flight, carrying astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore on what was meant to be an eight-to-14-day mission, resulted in the pair remaining at the ISS for months longer than planned.14
What to watch
- Whether the uncrewed Starliner flight proceeds on the reported 2027 timeline
- Whether Starliner-1 launches by January as suggested by The Register
- Whether a crewed Starliner mission occurs by 2028 as both TASS and The Register report
Sources (4)
Every outlet we drew on, grouped by where it is based. Read the originals for the full reporting.
Europe
- 3The RegisterGBPrivate
Boeing's Calamity Capsule gets another shot at the ISS taxi business
Russia & Eurasia
- 2TASSRUState-controlled
South Asia
East Asia
- 1CGTNCNState-controlled
NASA announces new missions for Boeing's Starliner spacecraft