James Dean

FLORIDA TODAY

SpaceX's first flight of astronauts has officially slipped into 2018, NASA confirmed Monday, but the company still hopes to beat rival Boeing to the International Space Station.

SpaceX is now targeting a test flight taking two astronauts to the ISS in May of 2018 — about six months later than previously planned, but three months before Boeing aims to fly a similar test in its CST-100 Starliner capsule.

The test flight with a crew will be preceded by an orbital flight without one that SpaceX now hopes to fly next November, again a six-month slip. Boeing plans its uncrewed test flight in June 2018.

Both SpaceX missions will launch upgraded versions of the Dragon cargo capsule, known as the Crew Dragon, atop Falcon 9 rockets lifting off from pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center. Boeing's will launch Starliners on Atlas V rockets next door at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 41.

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SpaceX is aiming to return the Falcon 9 to flight in early January with a launch from California, after completing an investigation into a rocket's explosion during a Sept. 1 test on the pad at the Cape's Launch Complex 40.

"We are carefully assessing our designs, systems, and processes taking into account the lessons learned and corrective actions identified," SpaceX said in a statement. "Our schedule reflects the additional time needed for this assessment and implementation."

The company said its primary focus next year will be on wrapping up final testing of the Crew Dragon's propulsion and parachute systems, building the first flight vehicle and completing the first test flight.

NASA said it continues to have "full confidence" that SpaceX would meet its safety standards.

"The development of a new human-rated spacecraft and launch vehicle is a challenging endeavor," said Stephanie Martin, a spokeswoman for NASA's Commercial Crew Program at KSC. "NASA technical authorities continue to work closely with SpaceX to carefully assess the integrated Crew Dragon/Falcon 9 system using lessons learned from system and subsystem designs, and processes. SpaceX’s schedule reflects the additional time needed for this assessment and implementation."

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It was already known that SpaceX's schedule would be delayed, but the new target dates had not yet been confirmed.

Boeing earlier had announced roughly six-month delays to its crew launch schedule, citing technical and production issues.

The first commercial crew to visit the space station will capture an American flag left behind by the last shuttle crew in July 2011.

Contact Dean at 321-242-3668 orjdean@floridatoday.com.And follow on Twitter at@flatoday_jdeanand on Facebook atfacebook.com/jamesdeanspace.