NASA considering flying only cargo on next Starliner mission

NASA is leaning toward a mission profile for the next Boeing Starliner flight that carries only cargo rather than crew. This approach is intended to validate key systems and lower risks by focusing exclusively on logistics, potentially accelerating critical testing needed for future crewed missions. The decision follows an in-depth review of mission safety and operational efficiency, emphasizing the importance of both reducing costs and ensuring compatibility with ISS resupply and research needs. This shift reflects NASA’s broader efforts to optimize the balance between technological advancement and mission safety within its evolving commercial spaceflight program. More

(Source: SpaceNews - Jul 12)