SpaceX and Boeing unlikely to be ready for manned missions before 2020

A new report from NASA reveals more delays for the Commercial Crew Program of both Boeing and SpaceX. The latest assessment suggests both firms may be nearly two years away from hitting operational status for NASA, as they've had issues meeting aggressive schedules.

To achieve certification for operational missions, the firms must each complete one uncrewed test mission and one crewed flight. The latest assessment indicates certification for SpaceX's crewed Dragon spacecraft may be delayed to December 2019, while Boeing's Starliner is is unlikely to get certified before February 2020.

"Both of the Commercial Crew Program's contractors have made progress developing their crew transportation systems, but delays persist as the contractors have had difficulty executing aggressive schedules," the report states.

Both SpaceX, with its Dragon spacecraft, and Boeing, with its Starliner vehicle, are engaged in intense development, testing, and assembly programs in preparation for critical flight tests. To become certified for operational missions, each company must complete one uncrewed flight and one crewed mission.

ARS Technica covers the issues over here. The good news is the delays won't cost taxpayers anything, as these contracts operate under a fixed-price system.

At the moment, the US has no manned space flight capacity. Since the cancellation of the failed Space Shuttle program in 2011, US astronauts have to hitch rides on Russian spacecraft.