Boeing’s uncrewed Starliner spacecraft arrives at the ISS. Photo: NASA

Boeing and NASA have pushed the Starliner capsule’s first crewed flight test to July. NASA and Boeing said the spacecraft is complete, but there are certification issues with the capsule’s parachute system and other verification items, on top of a busy flight schedule to and from the International Space Station (ISS) during the next few months.

“We are very proud of the work the team has done,” said Mark Nappi, vice president and Starliner program manager. “We understand the significance of this mission for both us and NASA. We will launch when we are ready and that includes at a time when the International Space Station can accept our vehicle.”

This will be the first test of the Starliner crew capsule with crew on board. The capsule had a successful uncrewed test in May 2022. This test has been pushed multiple times and was originally expected by the end of 2022, then it was on track for April of this year.

NASA and Boeing also reported the crew module’s interior is in its flight configuration and cargo is mostly loaded. Last week, NASA astronauts and CFT Commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Pilot Sunita “Suni” Williams, and backup pilot Mike Fincke, finished the second part of the Crew Equipment Interface Testing milestone, getting hands-on experience with the tools and equipment they will use during the flight test.