Report: Boeing to Conduct First CST-100 Test Flight in March

Boeing aims to launch its CST-100 Starliner spaceraft in March for an uncrewed test flight to the International Space Station, Space.com reported Friday.

Starliner will launch aboard United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida as part of the Orbital Flight Test mission. The spacecraft is expected to briefly dock at the orbiting laboratory before the vehicle returns to Earth via a parachute drop to Texas.

NASA awarded Boeing and SpaceX initial contracts potentially worth a combined $6.8B in September 2014 to transport U.S. astronauts to and from the ISS.

Maribeth Davis, a Boeing spokesperson, said the Starliner will ferry an initial group of astronauts in August if the maiden flight test is successful.

The spacecraft was originally scheduled to fly in August last year, but technical issues prompted the company to extend repair and maintenace efforts.