Boeing Starliner to be redesigned for 2028 NASA mission.

NASA will redesign Starliner's thrusters and certify a new rocket before resuming crewed flights, targeting mid-2028 at the earliest.

• $359 million in additional NASA funding covers Starliner upgrades and new rocket certification.
• Up to five crewed Starliner missions to the ISS are planned under the program.
• Atlas rockets used previously are retiring; Vulcan Centaur rockets are the planned replacement.
• NASA astronaut Woody Hoburg will command the first crewed Starliner mission.

Why it matters: SpaceX's Crew Dragon is currently the only U.S. vehicle carrying astronauts to the ISS, and SpaceX has stated it plans to phase Dragon out as Starship develops.

• NASA recently paid $946 million for three additional SpaceX crew flights as a bridge.
• The ISS requires continuous crew rotation until its planned decommissioning in the early 2030s.

How 7 sources split on this story

Where they split: Coverage diverges on emphasis: Reuters focuses on the redesign announcement and mission count; CNN contextualizes the decision within Starliner's safety record and NASA's dependence on SpaceX.

What’s next: An uncrewed Starliner flight is targeted for no earlier than December 2026.

• NASA is also weighing two additional mandatory Boeing flights under the existing contract.
• Will Vulcan Centaur complete crewed certification in time to support the 2028 mission schedule?
• If SpaceX accelerates Dragon's retirement, what options does NASA have before Starliner is operational?