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NASA, Boeing to Discuss Starliner's Path to Regular Crew Flights in Sept. 28 Briefing

Program leaders, including NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, to update Starliner development and certification progress

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NASA and Boeing leadership will hold a news conference at 3 p.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 28, to discuss the development of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft and plans for regular crew flights to and from the International Space Station, the agency announced.

The briefing will stream live on NASA's website. Scheduled participants include NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman; Dana Weigel, manager of NASA's Low Earth Orbit Program; NASA astronaut Woody Hoburg; and John Mulholland, vice president and program manager of Boeing Commercial Crew.

Media credentialed for the Crew-13 mission may participate in person at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Others can request the dial-in number from the Kennedy newsroom up to one hour before the call.

The update follows Starliner's Crew Flight Test, which carried NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the orbiting laboratory.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The briefing is expected to clarify when Starliner can begin regular crew-rotation missions, giving NASA a second operational U.S. crew vehicle for station flights.
  • Starliner's certification status affects the broader commercial crew program's schedule and the agency's ability to maintain a continuous U.S. presence on the space station.
  • The outcome also shapes Boeing's longer-term role in crewed spaceflight under its Commercial Crew contract.

Background

Starliner is Boeing's crew capsule developed under NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which contracts private companies to transport astronauts to the space station. The spacecraft's first crewed flight, the Crew Flight Test, carried Wilmore and Williams to the station but encountered technical problems in orbit; the capsule ultimately returned to Earth without them, and the crew remained aboard the station for an extended stay before returning. Since then, NASA and Boeing have been working toward certifying Starliner for operational rotation missions, a process expected to be a central topic of this week's briefing.

Key Perspectives

NASA: Focused on certifying Starliner for regular crew rotations while maintaining the safety standards that emerged from reviews of the test flight, with low-Earth-orbit program manager Dana Weigel among those briefing on progress. Boeing: Seeking to demonstrate that the spacecraft is ready for operational flights and to close out remaining technical work under its Commercial Crew contract; John Mulholland is expected to represent the program's position. Critics/Skeptics: Watchdogs and outside observers will likely press for specifics on unresolved technical issues from the test flight and whether another uncrewed or test mission is needed before Starliner is cleared for routine crew rotation.

What to Watch

  • Whether NASA announces a target date for Starliner's next crewed mission or formal certification for crew-rotation duty.
  • What program leaders say about outstanding technical work items and how those affect the space station crew rotation calendar.
  • Signals on whether Boeing will need to fly an additional test mission before beginning operational flights.

Sources

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Articles published under the Zotpaper byline are synthesized from multiple source publications by our AI editor and reviewed by our editorial process. Each story combines reporting from credible outlets to give readers a balanced, comprehensive view.

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