In a significant development for space exploration, Boeing and NASA have jointly decided to conduct the next Starliner flight without astronauts onboard. Instead, the upcoming mission will focus on a cargo trial aimed at validating the spacecraft's safety before future crewed flights. This decision comes more than eight months following the previous Starliner crew's return to Earth, who were stuck onboard the International Space Station for an extensive nine-month period due to multiple technical malfunctions encountered by the spacecraft.

During a 2024 mission, NASA test pilots successfully docked the Starliner capsule with the space station, although the return flight was marred with issues. These complications prompted NASA to call for the capsule's immediate return, resulting in the crew's extended stay in orbit. Since then, engineers have been diligently addressing the propulsion and thruster challenges impacting Starliner's performance.

The next cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station is slated for April 2024, contingent on the completion of additional tests and subsequent certification processes. Boeing reaffirmed its commitment to the Starliner program, emphasizing that the safety of future missions remains their top priority.

In tandem with the changes in mission strategy, NASA has reduced the planned number of Starliner flights from six to four. Should the cargo mission prove successful, the three remaining Starliner missions will be allocated for crew transfers before the planned decommissioning of the space station in 2030.

Steve Stich, NASA's commercial crew program manager, expressed confidence in the program, stating that rigorous tests of the Starliner’s propulsion system are ongoing in preparation for potential future flights next year. The partnership between NASA and Boeing, established in 2014, aims to facilitate transportation to and from the International Space Station, following the retirement of the space shuttle program, with Boeing's contract valued at $4.2 billion and SpaceX's worth $2.6 billion.

SpaceX successfully launched its first astronaut mission for NASA in 2020 and has continued to execute regular crewed missions since then. As developments continue, the focus remains on enhancing the safety and reliability of space travel for future crews aboard the Starliner spacecraft.