spacetoday.net: Starliner cleared for Dec. 20 test flight

Starliner cleared for Dec. 20 test flight

Posted: Sun, Dec 15, 2019, 7:49 AM ET (1249 GMT)
CST-100 Starliner on pad for OFT launch (ULA)

NASA approved plans Thursday to launch Boeing's CST-100 Starliner commercial crew vehicle on a test flight next week. NASA said the uncrewed test flight cleared its flight readiness review, allowing work to proceed on a launch scheduled for Dec. 20 at 6:36 am EST (1136 GMT). A launch that day would have the Starliner dock with the International Space Station a day later, remaining there for nearly a week before landing at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. A successful test flight would allow Boeing to proceed with a crewed test flight some time in the first part of 2020, although neither NASA nor Boeing would be more specific on when they expect to be ready to fly that mission.