Starliner investigation continues
Boeing is continuing its investigation into the thruster issue that delayed the launch of its CST-100 Starliner commercial crew vehicle but could soon run into schedule conflicts on both the International Space Station and with its launch vehicle.
In an Aug. 6 statement, Boeing said it was continuing to study why several valves in the propulsion system of the spacecraft were unexpectedly in the closed position during the countdown to the Aug. 3 launch attempt of the Orbital Flight Test (OFT) 2 mission, an uncrewed test flight. Boeing scrubbed the launch about three hours before the scheduled liftoff because of the problem.
[...] Neither NASA nor Boeing have set a new launch date for the OFT-2 mission. Boeing said in its statement that it is "assessing multiple launch opportunities for Starliner in August" and will work with NASA and United Launch Alliance to determine an appropriate launch date.
[...] A combination of factors could force an extended delay if the OFT-2 mission does not launch by late August. A Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch the CRS-23 cargo mission to the ISS Aug. 28. It will use the same docking port as Starliner will for OFT-2, meaning that if OFT-2 does not complete its mission by late August, NASA will either have to postpone CRS-23 or wait until that mission is done, likely no earlier than late September.
By that point, however, ULA will need to focus on preparations for its next Atlas 5 launch, NASA's Lucy asteroid mission. That mission has a three-week launch window that opens in mid-October. The Atlas 5 for OFT-2 would have to be "de-stacked" and the one for Lucy assembled in the VIF, with the spacecraft then installed and tested. Given the narrow window for Lucy, additional testing of the vehicle is likely to find any problems well ahead of the opening of the launch window.
Previously: It Now Seems Likely That Starliner Will Not Launch Crew Until Early 2022
Related Stories
It now seems likely that Starliner will not launch crew until early 2022:
The primary issue is the availability of space station docking ports fitted with an "international docking adapter," which are used by SpaceX's Crew Dragon, Cargo Dragon 2, and Starliner vehicles. There are presently two such ports on the station, and for NASA, the priority for access to these ports are crew rotations followed by supply missions. So the question becomes when the Starliner test flight can find an open slot on station.
The Crew-2 mission, carrying four astronauts on SpaceX's Crew Dragon vehicle, is expected to launch on April 22 and remain attached to one of these ports for about six months. Then, on June 3, a SpaceX cargo supply mission (CRS-22) is due to launch and occupy the other port.
Thus, there will be no docking ports available this summer until about July 20, the approximate date when the CRS-22 Dragon will depart the station and return to Earth. This departure will open an approximately one-month window during which Starliner could make its test flight. Therefore, although NASA and Boeing have not yet made a target date public, we can expect this flight to take place no earlier than late July or early August.
[...] After this repeat test flight, which is officially known as Orbital Flight Test-2, NASA and Boeing will perform a detailed data analysis. One source said that optimistically, this process would require about six months. This would push a crewed test flight into January 2022. Another NASA official said the spacecraft would not fly until the "hardware is ready and it makes the most sense to fly based on station's needs." He added that there is no clock on this crewed flight test, since NASA already has an operational vehicle, Crew Dragon, to meet its astronaut-rotation needs.
[...] Finally, if this crew test flight is successful, Boeing could fly its first "operational" Starliner mission for NASA. This would carry a full complement of four astronauts to the space station for about six months and would happen sometime later in 2022, most likely during the April or September time frames.
Today, Boeing informed NASA that the company will destack its CST-100 Starliner from the Atlas V rocket and return the spacecraft to the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility
(C3PF) for deeper-level troubleshooting of four propulsion system valves that remain closed after last Tuesday's scrubbed launch.
Boeing's Starliner is a human-rated space capsule built for NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Its initial test flight in December 2019 (OFT-1) was partially successful, but due to software errors was unable to dock with the International Space Station. This was to be its second flight test (OFT-2), but less than 24 hours before launch 13 valves in the propulsion system of the capsule were found to be stuck; after several days of "applying mechanical, electrical and thermal techniques to prompt the valves open", seven (and now nine) of the thirteen have been restored to operation. But the remaining four are being recalcitrant, and more invasive work will need to be done.
Previously: Boeing's Starliner Orbital Flight Test 2 Mission Runs into Thruster, Scheduling Issues
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @03:51AM (7 children)
They're just not trustworthy any more. Sure wish Lockheed would get back in the business
(Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Tuesday August 10 2021, @03:58AM (1 child)
United Lunch Alliance is a 50/50 joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by KilroySmith on Tuesday August 10 2021, @02:55PM
The ULA Atlas V rocket underneath the Boeing capsule didn't have any issues. Say what you want about the price of a ULA rocket, they're solid, reliable performers.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @04:27AM (3 children)
Yeah bullshit. Read this again: "Boeing said it was continuing to study why several valves in the propulsion system of the spacecraft were unexpectedly in the closed position during the countdown"
When I read that I almost weep with pride in the human race. Ask yourself - when has ANY manager ever said that to you? The usual reaction is to yell, fire one or two people, put everyone on notice and behave like a shitstain until someone magically scores a home run, in which case they are the hero and everyone else is a weak loser. That's why we can't go to Mars, dipshits.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @04:44AM (1 child)
Well we've had enough disasters so they understand that a fuckup will cost them way more than rescheduling. Humans are slow, but they tend to learn.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @05:13AM
He's not talking about humans, he's talking about managers.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @05:53AM
What we have read is the public statement prepared by their PR department. We have no idea what is being said (or yelled) behind closed doors.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @05:49AM
Sierra Nevada Corporation is practically begging to be allowed to fly their Dream Chaser vehicle, and unlike Dragon or Starliner they can even equip an airlock to support space walks so even if they cost more the added capability is worth the money. If anyone deserves a shot at the second Commercial Crew slot it is them.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @03:51AM (18 children)
bloated defense contractors relying political lobbying for their meal tickets.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @04:33AM (17 children)
What, you work for lockheed?
Ike was right about the military industrial complex.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @04:40AM (1 child)
Afghanistan ticker parade next month, guys! I'm pumped for it.
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @06:24AM
Did America win again? Just like in Vietnam, and Cuba, and North Korea, and Falkirk, and Wounded Knee, and Custer's Last Attempted Massacre, and Pickett's charge, and the burning of the Capitol by trump supporters in 1814? Are Americans tired of winning, yet? What a bunch of loosers!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @04:41AM (14 children)
Many of the real users have bailed, we're left with a larger proportion of shills trying to shut down anything critical of unfettered capitalism. The world is falling to pieces and these greedy jerks can't see past their own wallets.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @05:18AM (6 children)
For fifty cents a pop I'll say nice things about Bernie. For a dollar a go I'll say nice things about Biden. For five bucks each I'll even say nice things about Clinton.*
*(Price scales with the difficulty of finding nice things to say)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @05:23AM (3 children)
Takeaway: they know no one can afford to have nice things said about trump!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @05:41AM
No, for nice things about Trump he pays you... sorry, promises to pay you the bilks you in the ass sucka.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @07:13AM (1 child)
Already got a contract for Trump. He comes in about the same as Biden.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @08:13AM
Sad, low energy. This guy over here, peoole tell me he knows how to haggle. I say to myself, no way he us better than me! But just in case I'm not the best, I know I'm so humble, I get my perfect AMERICAN made Sharpie ready to go. We'll knock this guy outta the park, just like we kept those criminals out with our wall, such a beautiful wall folks, and we'll knock this guy right back to wherever the hell he came from. So this guy says five bucks for each good message. I can't believe this number, it is such a small number and I think, does this joker even know I'm a billionaire? I was ready to go as high as ten thousand for each one and he starts at five? Know what I do folks? I pull out my sharpie, walk over to this limp wristed shrimpy little guy, and you wanna know? I reach out my hand, he thinks I'm gonna shake that girly little hand, he reaches out so I grab his arm and force his palm up. He looks helpless, he has no idea this is his lucky day, and I write DEAL in big bild letters right there on his hand. Of course I never ended up paying for his lame posts because I'm very smart and I never let go of money if I don't have to. Smart people don't pay taxes, and when you're famous they let you do it.
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @06:10AM (1 child)
For *One Million Dollars* I will say nice things about Donald Trump. [removes pinkie from mouth] Not under oath, however. That will cost you a lot more.
(Score: 2) by sjames on Tuesday August 10 2021, @11:01AM
Careful, that didn't work out so well for Giuliani [businessinsider.com].
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @05:20AM (6 children)
Fortunately for us, SN is so, so, so low on the radar we never get visited by corporate shills. On second thoughts, that's worse, it means they're real.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @06:13AM (5 children)
Other than takyon, and Runaway for Russia, and khallow for vom Mises. Oh, and we used to have one of the Elect, a child of the Heavenly Father, that was watching over us. Seems he has left, because we were too right.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @06:19AM (1 child)
> one of the Elect, a child of the Heavenly Father
The N-word guy? Huh I would never have guessed.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @07:45AM
No, the M word guy. Church of Ladder Saintes.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @06:31AM (2 children)
Bite me. Your an ass. Donkey type. (put down)
Runaway says good things many times. Your just to stupid to understand what he says. (informative)
Only a few on this site worth reading their post. Even the resident evil trans has good things to say sometimes. (tolerance)
Turn off the hate and turn on the brain and maybe you'll live a good long life. (advice)
An old hippie once told me that he's too lazy to hate. It takes too much work. As us old folk know; hippies don't like to work. (history)
NOTE: moderator help provided.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @07:48AM (1 child)
Ha! Ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha, ha! Runaway is full of shit. We all understand what he says, but it is just full of shit. What is your problem, are you on the receiving end of Runaway's bullshit?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @08:17AM
You are being too tough, runaway occasionally had decent comments. He is mostly full of shit though.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @06:19AM
I have heard speculation that this might be damage from a passing thunderstorm. If so then it raises questions about the launch facility's lightning protection, as well as Starliner's resistance to EMP. If it wasn't the storm then there are rather pointed questions about why this wasn't detected sooner. And if it was a case of the valves seizing up over time then that raises questions about reliability since Starliner is supposed to be able to stay docked with the ISS for up to six months at a time. As it stands they are twenty months late for an already late debut. The only good thing I can say is that this isn't a cost plus contract so at least taxpayers aren't being billed for it.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday August 10 2021, @07:47AM
I'd be surprised if they didn't, it's their way of operating.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @12:24PM (2 children)
They have lost the game for quick and cheap.
They seem to understand that they must spend the time and effort to get this one right, or they have a complete strike out.
The delay may be a good sign. It appears that their management process is learning. Unfortunately this was after it borked the technical process.
Looks like we have a horse race with Intel and Boeing both working to get back to where they were. Who's next? Pretty strange customer 'support' stuff coming from the gm electirc cars folks...
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday August 10 2021, @04:05PM (1 child)
Since McDonald Douglass bought Boeing using Boeing's money, and then got rid of Boeing's management
I hope that answers your question.
Why does NASA continue to pay a company that now has a history of being over budget and always late?
While Republicans can get over Trump's sexual assaults, affairs, and vulgarity; they cannot get over Obama being black.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 11 2021, @04:01PM
Because Congress demands it.
(Score: 3, Informative) by KilroySmith on Tuesday August 10 2021, @02:46PM (1 child)
https://starlinerupdates.com/boeing-advances-starliner-solutions-in-the-vertical-integration-facility/ [starlinerupdates.com]
Apparently, they've had 13 valves stick, and they've been able to get 7 of them unstuck and working again after "applying mechanical, electrical and thermal techniques to prompt the valves open."
Is anyone else visualizing a grey-haired master technician heating each gazillion dollar valve with a propane torch then whanging on it with a hammer?
It'll be really interesting to hear how this particular widespread failure occurred, and how it made it to within 24 hours of launch.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 10 2021, @03:31PM
The manager had an Agile scrum in the morning and they decided to go with the launch and work out the problems as they come up.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday August 10 2021, @04:00PM
*** WARNING ! ***
When listening to Boeing talk about the
Starliner, listeners are strongly advised
to wear extra strength facepalm protection.
While Republicans can get over Trump's sexual assaults, affairs, and vulgarity; they cannot get over Obama being black.