Starliner future plans still in limbo

简介：

A year after Boeing’s troubled crewed test flight of the CST‑100 Starliner, NASA still hasn’t decided on the spacecraft’s next mission — or whether it will be crewed or uncrewed. The next flight isn’t expected before early 2026, pending resolution of technical issues like thruster failures and helium leaks. Budget cuts and ongoing testing have delayed decisions, while Boeing remains quiet amid speculation it might exit the program after incurring $2 billion in losses. NASA stresses the need for a backup to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, but shrinking funds may threaten Starliner’s future, Space News has reported.