NASA Awards Boeing $359 Million Contract to Continue Space Program with Starliner
NASA has awarded Boeing a new contract worth $359 million to continue its space program using the troubled Starliner spacecraft. This decision comes as SpaceX plans to phase out its Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule by 2030, shifting focus toward its next-generation Starship system. The agreement includes at least five additional Starliner missions—starting with an uncrewed test flight in late 2026 or early 2027. If successful, a crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS) is planned for mid-2028. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized that Boeing's spacecraft will fill the gap left by SpaceX’s retirement of older systems. Despite past issues with Starliner—including failed launches and technical malfunctions—NASA believes sufficient progress has been made in addressing these problems to justify continued investment.
