Boeing has pencilled in a 17 December launch for its CST-100 Starliner capsule 's unpiloted orbital flight test ( OFT ) . It will take off from Cape Canaveral on an Atlas V rocket before docking with the International Space Station . That in-flight abort test, which is now scheduled to take place in on Nov. 4, will demonstrate Starliner's ability to return astronauts to safety in the event of an emergency on the launch pad or during the spacecraft's ascent. The Starliner is also scheduled for an in - flight abort test on 4 November . Boeing 's programme has experienced delays , including in July 2018 when an abort test uncovered an " anomaly " . The original OFT , slated for March , was pushed back after clashing with an Atlas V launch .
Boeing has pencilled in a 17 December launch for its CST-100 Starliner capsule 's unpiloted orbital flight test ( OFT ) . It will take off from Cape Canaveral on an Atlas V rocket before docking with the International Space Station . The Starliner is also scheduled for an in - flight abort test on 4 November . Boeing 's programme has experienced delays , including in July 2018 when an abort test uncovered an " anomaly " . The original OFT , slated for March , was pushed back after clashing with an Atlas V launch .