CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule finally has a launch date for its first test flight to the International Space Station.
After an intensive review Thursday, NASA and Boeing managers agreed to a Dec. 20 liftoff.
“Hopefully, we should all be getting an early Christmas present this year,” said Phil McAlister, director of NASA’s commercial spaceflight development.
Just a few technical issues remain to be completed, he noted.
No one will be aboard, just a mannequin named Rosie. Three astronauts will strap in for the second test flight of a Starliner sometime next year.
SpaceX also plans to launch astronauts for NASA next year. The company conducted a test flight without a crew back in March.
