
A NASA announcement states that the Starliner spacecraft, developed by Boeing, will conduct its next mission without a crew due to technical issues encountered in a recent test flight. Initially planned to carry four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), the Starliner-1 mission will instead operate as a cargo mission. During its last flight on June 5, 2024, with astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore on board, a helium leak was discovered which led to the failure of five out of 28 thrusters. Consequently, NASA decided to return the Starliner without passengers. Originally, Boeing and NASA had agreed on six missions post the testing phase, but due to these issues, NASA has reduced the number to four missions. The first is expected in April 2026 as a passenger-less mission, with potential future missions only carrying astronauts if the initial mission proves reliable. The change in contract terms results in a financial loss for Boeing, decreasing their payment from $4.5 billion to $3.4 billion.