● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportMedium impact1 neutral
Boeing CEO states Starliner propulsion system redesign is progressing well, flight possible this year
Key points
- Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg updated on Starliner's propulsion system redesign.
- The redesign addresses issues from a previous crewed flight mishap.
- Scheduling a launch date with NASA for a cargo mission is the primary remaining issue.
- A Starliner flight could occur in 2024.
Starliner Redesign Progress
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg announced during a quarterly earnings call that the redesign efforts for the Starliner spacecraft's propulsion system are progressing positively. This work aims to resolve critical deficiencies identified during previous test flights.
Addressing Previous Mishaps
The propulsion system issues led NASA to classify a 2024 crewed flight of Starliner as a "Type A" mishap. These problems had previously jeopardized the mission of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams, who were returned to Earth on a Crew Dragon vehicle in early 2025 after the Starliner's first crewed mission encountered difficulties.
Path to Flight
Ortberg indicated that much of the redesign work is now complete. The main remaining hurdle is coordinating a launch date with NASA for a cargo flight to the International Space Station, which requires ensuring an open docking port and astronaut availability to unload the vehicle. This suggests a Starliner flight could occur within the current year.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg reported that the redesign of the Starliner spacecraft's propulsion system deficiencies is "going quite well," suggesting a potential flight this year. This update follows NASA's classification of a previous crewed flight as a "Type A" mishap due to propulsion issues, which grounded the spacecraft.