Boeing and NASA in Talks for 10 or More New Starliner Missions, WSJ Reports

Boeing (NYSE:BA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are in discussions to use the Starliner vehicle for 10 or more new flights in the coming years, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal citing people familiar with the matter.

An expanded contract would represent a significant commitment to the spacecraft, which encountered performance issues during its inaugural crewed test flight earlier this year.

Details of the Discussion

The potential new missions are intended to help maintain consistent U.S. access to the International Space Station (ISS) in low-Earth orbit, the report states. NASA's original contract with Boeing covered up to six crewed missions for the Starliner.

A NASA spokesman confirmed to the press that the agency is developing plans for a continued presence in low-Earth orbit and will release details soon. A Boeing representative stated the company remains committed to NASA’s efforts and anticipates launching the next Starliner mission.

Starliner's Troubled History

The discussions come after a challenging debut for the Starliner program. During its first crewed mission in the summer of 2024, the spacecraft successfully transported NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams to the ISS. However, the flight was marred by several technical problems.

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Key issues on the test flight included:

• Multiple helium leaks in the propulsion system.
• The failure of several reaction-control-system thrusters during docking maneuvers.

These performance issues raised safety concerns and complicated the mission's objectives. According to the source, the Starliner vehicle has not flown since it returned to Earth empty in September 2024.

Market Implications

A new, larger order would be a crucial vote of confidence for Boeing's space division, which has faced significant delays and cost overruns developing the Starliner. It would solidify the spacecraft's role alongside SpaceX's Dragon capsule as a primary provider of crew transport for NASA, ensuring redundancy in U.S. access to space for the remainder of the ISS's operational life.