propulsion

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg says Starliner's propulsion redesign is going well, and the spacecraft could launch a cargo test flight to the ISS this year, pending port availability. A crewed mission might follow in late 2027 if the cargo flight succeeds.

LEAP 71 highlights progress in AI-generated rocket engines, from a 5 kN kerolox thruster two years ago to a 20 kN methalox thruster, with hot-fires occurring roughly every six weeks.