CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: After a rocky debut marked by a critical system malfunction, NASA and Boeing are moving forward with testing the Starliner spacecraft in hopes of launching its next crewed mission by late 2025 or early 2026.

The CST-100 Starliner, Boeing's crew transport vehicle developed under NASA's Commercial Crew Program, encountered a propulsion system fault during its first manned trip to the International Space Station. The glitch extended what was meant to be an eight-day mission into a nine-month stay for NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who only returned earlier this month—aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule.

NASA announced this week that it is now collaborating with Boeing to resolve the issue and finalize testing and analysis plans for the spacecraft's propulsion system. These test campaigns are scheduled to take place throughout the spring and summer.

Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, said, "The flight was likely to be in the timeframe of late this calendar year or early next year."

Despite the delay and complications, NASA remains committed to certifying the Starliner for routine crewed flights to the ISS.

The extended mission and its fallout are the latest challenge for Boeing's space ambitions. Fixing the Starliner's propulsion system adds to an already complex development effort that has cost the company more than $2 billion.

The Starliner program is part of NASA's broader effort to establish multiple commercial options for sending astronauts to space. While SpaceX has been successfully flying its Dragon capsule since 2020, Boeing has struggled to meet milestones due to technical issues and delays.

Williams and Wilmore's eventual safe return helped clear one hurdle, but the upcoming tests will be key to determining whether Starliner can become a viable alternative to NASA's current options.

"Joint teams are working to finalize the scope and timelines for various propulsion system test campaigns and analyses," NASA said, underscoring the agency's continued support for Boeing's role in the Commercial Crew Program.

If testing proceeds as planned, the next crewed launch of the Starliner could help Boeing get back on track—and provide NASA with more flexibility in accessing low-Earth orbit.