Astronauts launch to the space station after sidelined by Boeing's troubled Starliner

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Astronauts sidelined for the past year by Boeing’s Starliner trouble blasted off to the International Space Station on Friday, getting a lift from SpaceX.

The U.S.-Japanese-Russian crew of four rocketed from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. They’ll replace colleagues who launched to the space station in March as fill-ins for NASA’s two stuck astronauts.

Their SpaceX capsule should reach the orbiting lab this weekend and stay for at least six months.

Zena Cardman, a biologist and polar explorer who should have launched last year, was yanked along with another NASA crewmate to make room for Starliner’s star-crossed test pilots.

“I have no emotion but joy right now. That was absolutely transcendent. Ride of a lifetime,” Cardman, the flight commander, said after reaching orbit.

The botched Starliner demo forced Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to switch to SpaceX to get back from the space station more than nine months after departing on what should have been a weeklong trip.

“Every astronaut wants to be in space. None of us want to stay on the ground, but it’s not about me,” Cardman said before her flight.

NASA’s Mike Fincke — Cardman’s co-pilot — was the backup for Wilmore and Williams on Starliner, making those three still the only ones certified to fly it. Fincke and Japan’s Kimiya Yui, former military officers with previous spaceflight experience, were training for Starliner’s second astronaut mission. With Starliner grounded until 2026, NASA switched the two to the latest SpaceX flight.

“Boy, it's great to be back in orbit again,” Fincke radioed. He last soared on NASA's next-to-last space shuttle flight in 2011.

Rounding out the crew is Russia’s Oleg Platonov. The former fighter pilot was pulled a few years ago from the Russian Soyuz flight lineup because of an undisclosed health issue that he said has since been resolved.

On hand for the first launch attempt on Thursday, NASA's new acting administrator, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, met with Roscosmos director general Dmitry Bakanov, an invited guest. The two discussed future collaboration, then left town after thick clouds forced a last-minute delay.

“What we learn on these missions is what’s going to get us to the moon and then from the moon to Mars, which is I think the direction that NASA has to be,” Duffy said in a NASA interview. “There's critical real estate on the moon. We want to claim that real estate for ourselves and our partners.”

To save money in light of tight budgets, NASA is looking to increase its space station stays from six months to eight months, a move already adopted by Russia's space agency. SpaceX is close to certifying its Dragon capsules for longer flights, which means the newly launched crew could be up there until April.

NASA is also considering smaller crews — three astronauts launching on SpaceX instead of the typical four — to cut costs.

As for Starliner, NASA is leaning toward launching the next one with cargo before flying another crew.

Engineers are still investigating the thruster failures and helium leaks that bedeviled Starliner following liftoff. Time is running out as NASA looks to abandon the aging space station by 2030. An air leak on the Russian side of the station remains unresolved after years of patching.

Engineering teams already are working on the plan for the space station's last days.

NASA's Ken Bowersox said the U.S. and Russia need to cooperate in order to steer the outpost into the Pacific with minimal risk to the public.

It will take at least two years to get the space station low enough to where a SpaceX vehicle can provide the final shove. Thrusters on the Russian side of the station will help with control, but that means more fuel will have to be delivered by 2028.

The latest timeline calls for SpaceX to launch the last mission for NASA — the deorbit vehicle — to the space station in 2029. Astronauts would remain on board until the last four to six months of the station's life to handle any breakdowns, with the empty outpost plunging into the Pacific by late 2030 or early 2031.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Astronaut Mike Fincke speaks to friends as he leaves the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A and a planned liftoff on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in Cape Canaveral , Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Astronaut Kimiya Yui, of Japan gestures as he leaves the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A and a planned liftoff on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in Cape Canaveral , Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Astronaut Zena Cardman waves as she leaves the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A and a planned liftoff on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in Cape Canaveral , Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Astronaut Oleg Platonov, of Russia gestures to family memberfs as he leaves the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A and a planned liftoff on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in Cape Canaveral , Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Astronauts, from left, Oleg Platonov, of Russia, Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, and Kimiya Yui, of Japan, pose for a photo as they leave the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A and a planned liftoff on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in Cape Canaveral , Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying a Dragon capsule with a U.S.-Japanese-Russian crew of four, lifts off from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A in Cape Canaveral , Fla., on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying a Dragon capsule with a U.S.-Japanese-Russian crew of four, lifts off from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A in Cape Canaveral , Fla., on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a Crew Dragon capsule lifts off from Pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Astronaut Mike Fincke speaks to friends as he leaves the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A and a planned liftoff on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in Cape Canaveral , Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Astronaut Kimiya Yui, of Japan gestures as he leaves the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A and a planned liftoff on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in Cape Canaveral , Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Astronaut Zena Cardman waves as she leaves the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A and a planned liftoff on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in Cape Canaveral , Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Astronaut Oleg Platonov, of Russia gestures to family memberfs as he leaves the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A and a planned liftoff on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in Cape Canaveral , Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Astronauts, from left, Oleg Platonov, of Russia, Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, and Kimiya Yui, of Japan, pose for a photo as they leave the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A and a planned liftoff on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in Cape Canaveral , Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying a Dragon capsule with a U.S.-Japanese-Russian crew of four, lifts off from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A in Cape Canaveral , Fla., on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying a Dragon capsule with a U.S.-Japanese-Russian crew of four, lifts off from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A in Cape Canaveral , Fla., on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 15, 2026--

Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU), the global financial technology platform that makes Intuit TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, today opened its new Intuit TurboTax flagship store in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood, reimagining the future of personal and small business tax filing by combining the power of its all-in-one, agentic AI-driven consumer platform and human intelligence (HI) to deliver the ultimate done-for-you tax experience. The opening of the new Intuit TurboTax flagship store at 463 Broadway in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood marks the nationwide launch of nearly 600 Expert Office locations and 20 new TurboTax Stores, successfully completing the expansion phase initiated last year. By seamlessly merging advanced agentic AI with a network of local AI-powered human expertise, Intuit is creating a system of intelligence that anticipates consumer needs, automates the tedium of tax preparation, and gives customers the confidence they need based on their unique tax situation. Intuit’s consumer platform actively works in the filers' best interest to find them more money, easier and faster.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260115079410/en/

“We are fundamentally redefining what it means to get taxes done by delivering a first-of-its-kind seamless integration of our digital and physical experience,” said Mark Notarainni, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Consumer Group, Intuit. “This isn’t just another tax store; it is the physical manifestation of our AI+HI strategy, a modern space where our AI and local human expertise converge to provide trusted, personalized guidance. We are providing the antidote to tax-related stress and anxiety to give filers year-round control, complete confidence, and better financial outcomes.”

The Future of Filing: Combining the Power Of Agentic AI with Local Expertise

With the opening of TurboTax stores, Intuit is fundamentally reimagining the tax landscape, creating a high-touch front door that brings digital filing and in-person expertise together in a seamless, modern experience. A distinct departure from traditional tax offices, these stores are powered by a first-of-its-kind, connected platform uniting Credit Karma and TurboTax together to support customers end to end. Tailored to filers’ unique needs, these physical locations provide them with much-needed time back and peace of mind during an overwhelming season; by eliminating manual data entry through an integrated digital-to-physical journey, Intuit ensures customers can focus on their lives with complete financial confidence.

Key components of the TurboTax store experience:

Nationwide Local Store Locations

TurboTax is strategically opening stores in key markets across the country to bring local expert assistance within reach of millions of filers. Up to 20 stores will open in advance of the tax deadline in the following metropolitan areas:

In addition to these storefronts, TurboTax has activated nearly 600 Expert offices nationwide, increasing its physical presence to offer local, face-to-face support.

Grand Opening Celebration: A Blueprint for Financial Confidence

To celebrate this shift in the tax landscape, Intuit is hosting an exclusive event tonight at the SoHo Flagship featuring Intuit CEO Sasan Goodarzi and Consumer Group EVP Mark Notarainni. Cultural icon Issa Rae will conduct a fireside chat, and be joined by special guests including Aaron Judge and DJ Mick. The evening will culminate with a musical performance by Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals.

Powering Prosperity: $100,000 Commitment to NYC Schools

As part of the grand opening, Intuit is reinforcing its investment in the New York community and the next generation of filers. Intuit will announce a $100,000 donation to NYCPS. This contribution provides students with the resources to develop financial literacy, capability, and confidence for personal and professional success.

TurboTax partnered with renowned architectural, design, and planning firm, Gensler on the design and architecture of its physical locations, as well as BUCK, a global creative company on the Forum's interactive content design. Leading global commercial real estate and investment management company, Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc. (JLL) is its brokerage partner.

To find an Intuit TurboTax store, or explore expert offerings, visit TurboTax.com.

For press assets visit our digital press kit.

About Intuit

Intuit is the global financial technology platform that powers prosperity for the people and communities we serve. With approximately 100 million customers worldwide using products such as TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to prosper. We never stop working to find new, innovative ways to make that possible. Please visit us at Intuit.com and find us on social for the latest information about Intuit and our products and services.

The Forum seating area at the new TurboTax SoHo Flagship (463 Broadway), utilizes ambient animations on a 30-foot-wide L-shaped digital screen to provide financial education in a serene environment, proving that human connection, empowered by Intuit's advanced AI, can transform the inherently emotional task of tax filing.

Intuit TurboTax's Flagship Store in New York's SoHo neighborhood at 463 Broadway, NY, New York