Boeing pilots to make space trip (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Jonathan Amos
Science correspondent, BBC News

Boeing says two of its own employees will crew the first manned mission of its new astronaut capsule.

The US company has confirmed it will use the Atlas 5 rocket to test its CST-100 ship on three flights in 2015.

An unmanned capsule will be used on the first and second launches. On the third, Boeing test pilots will take the vessel to the space station.

The plan is dependent on a successful development programme and the availability of sufficient funding.

Boeing is one of a number of companies being encouraged by the US space agency (Nasa) to develop a commercially operated crew transport service to and from low-Earth orbit.
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14417634




Lots of luck getting sufficient funding with the small-gubmint loonies in charge.