Starliner Crew Launch No Earlier Than July 2023

Boeing has announced that its first crewed flight test of the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft with NASA astronauts on board will be postponed until at least July 2023. The delay is caused by several technical issues that need to be resolved before the spacecraft can be certified for human spaceflight.

The Starliner is one of two commercial vehicles contracted by NASA under the Commercial Crew Program to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS). The other vehicle, SpaceX's Crew Dragon, has already completed three crewed missions and is preparing for a fourth one in August.

The Starliner, however, has faced multiple setbacks since its first uncrewed test flight in December 2019, which failed to reach the ISS due to software errors. A second uncrewed test flight in May 2022 was largely successful, but revealed some problems or concerns that required further investigation and, or, work.

The issues include validation of lithium ion battery safety, parachute system testing, a valve redesign, and a crew module to service module separation system upgrade.

The ISS schedule in the April through June 2023 time frame also figured into the new launch date as it is a busy period at the orbital outpost.

NASA's space operations chief Kathy Lueders said on Twitter that the agency and Boeing are "working together methodically" to ensure the Starliner is ready for its first crewed mission. She added that the delay "is not a reflection of any specific technical challenge" but rather "a realistic assessment of the work required."

The Crewed Flight Test, also known as CFT, will carry NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams to the ISS for a six-month stay. The launch will take place from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.

The CFT is expected to be followed by operational flights of the Starliner with four astronauts on board. Boeing has a contract with NASA for six such flights.