{"id":2375,"date":"2026-09-29T01:17:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T16:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/briefing\/2026-09-29-starliner-2028-return-plan-en\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T01:17:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T16:17:00","slug":"2026-09-29-starliner-2028-return-plan-en","status":"publish","type":"briefing","link":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/briefing\/2026-09-29-starliner-2028-return-plan-en\/","title":{"rendered":"Starliner will fly uncrewed first, with astronauts now targeted for 2028"},"content":{"rendered":"

2026-09-29 01:17 KST<\/strong><\/p>\n

Starliner-1 would carry cargo to the International Space Station without astronauts. NASA plans to use it to measure the thermal and propulsion environment and identify residual risk.<\/p>\n

Only a satisfactory result can clear the path for crewed Starliner-2. The sequence puts resolution of helium leaks and reaction-control thruster trouble from the 2024 test ahead of the timetable.<\/p>\n

What will be changed and retested<\/h2>\n

The service-module thruster poppet will be redesigned, and valves on all 12 crew-module reaction-control thrusters will be replaced. New crew-module thrusters, NASA-provided batteries and a parachute-joint improvement also enter the certification work.<\/p>\n

What December or January means<\/h2>\n

NASA says Starliner-1 has the potential to fly in that window. Ground tests and readiness reviews can move it, and one successful uncrewed mission would not automatically complete human-rating certification.<\/p>\n

\"Starliner
This AI-generated image explains the topic; it is not a photograph of an actual event, observation or field site.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why wait until 2028<\/h2>\n

Propulsion anomalies led the 2024 crew test to return without its astronauts. NASA will first analyse thermal and thruster data from the next uncrewed flight, then finish further valve work and system certification before carrying people.<\/p>\n

What to watch next<\/h2>\n

The actual Starliner-1 launch date, on-orbit thruster performance and the post-flight certification review are decisive. The precise 2028 crew date and later mission count remain conditional until that evidence is complete.<\/p>\n

Primary source and independent checks<\/h2>\n

Primary source: NASA development plan<\/a><\/p>\n

Institutional measurement or explanation: Boeing Starliner-1 update<\/a><\/p>\n

Independent check: Associated Press independent report<\/a><\/p>\n

Read in other languages<\/h2>\n

\ud55c\uad6d\uc5b4<\/a> \u00b7 English<\/a> \u00b7 Espa\u00f1ol<\/a> \u00b7 \u65e5\u672c\u8a9e<\/a> \u00b7 Ti\u1ebfng Vi\u1ec7t<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NASA and Boeing say Starliner could make an uncrewed cargo flight in December 2026 or January 2027, while a crewed return is targeted for 2028. These are conditional planning dates: propulsion, thermal and parachute changes must be validated before astronauts board.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":[],"class_list":["post-2375","briefing","type-briefing","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/briefing\/2375","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/briefing"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/briefing"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2375"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}