Boeing’s ‘Rosie the Astronaut’ to Fly Aboard Starliner’s First Orbital Test Flight; Leanne Caret Quoted

Boeing has named the test dummy that will ride aboard the company’s CST-100 Starliner crew capsule as part of the spacecraft’s maiden orbital flight test, Florida Today reported Thursday.

The mannequin “Rosie the Astronaut” was named after “Rosie the Riveter,” a World War II icon that represented female assembly line workers who helped produce weapons and other equipment during the war.

“Rosie is a symbol of not only the women who are blazing a trail in human spaceflight history, but also of everyone who has shown grit and determination while working tirelessly to ensure the Starliner can transport astronauts safely to and from the International Space Station,” said Leanne Caret, president of Boeing's defense, space and security business and a 2019 Wash100 award winner.

Boeing has shipped the spacecraft to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida for the first orbital test that will launch on Dec. 17 aboard United Launch Alliance-built Atlas V rocket.

The test flight seeks to collect critical data in preparation for the first manned Starliner flight in 2020 under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.