First CEV flight in 2008?

According to the current issue of AW&ST, the first flight
of a boilerplate CEV and upper stage could take place as
soon as 2008. The purpose would be to demonstrate
a Mach 6 abort scenario, as well as upper stage separation.

It would also lend an aura of progress to the program by
demonstrating a relatively early flight test with a
four-segment RSRM, presumably off an unmodified MLP
at one of the Shuttle launch pads. Some sort of roll
thruster package would have to be incorporated into
the upper stage, but whether that would be anything like
the operational launch vehicle is not clear.

--Damon
.

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