Passenger Spacecraft Projects Face Delay

As expected, the first major test flights for Boeing and SpaceX’s new passenger spacecraft have been delayed again. Following an engine test mishap, Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner will likely perform two crucial test flights next year, instead of this year as planned. Meanwhile, SpaceX still aims to fly its Crew Dragon for the first time later this year without people on board, followed by its first crewed flight in April 2019. Boeing and SpaceX are both developing spacecraft as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew program, an initiative to send humans to the International Space Station on private US spacecraft. Boeing is developing the CST-100 Starliner, which is meant to carry seven passengers and travel to space on top of an Atlas V rocket manufactured by the United Launch Alliance. SpaceX is updating its Dragon cargo capsule to carry seven crew, and it will fly on top of the company’s Falcon 9 rocket. Before the vehicles are considered operational, NASA wants them to conduct both uncrewed and crewed flight tests of the capsules to see if they are ready for regular trips to the station.