[snip] I think the decision to bring it back with no crew aboard has already been made, but in the meantime the teams are trying to get as much data as possible before it disintegrates on reentry... I doubt that they’ll build another one or fly any they already have in process. [/snip]Astronauts stuck in space at least another week as Boeing and NASA troubleshoot Starliner spacecraft issues [me, post #21, 6/20/2024, 9:19:59 AM]
[snip] ...it's built to do a last second propulsive landing on dry land, which would be foolhardy to try now with passengers. There's no way SpaceX won't be giving them the ride home. [/snip]Boeing Wins Space Mission Contracts Owing To Its 'Armies Of Lobbyists,' Says SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Amid Starliner Return Delay [me, post #25, 7/31/2024, 8:02:55 AM]
[snip] ...the ground tests have only identified the problems, and these are all things that should have been figured out during engineering and development...
If they send the craft back to Earth uncrewed and it fails (as seems likely) NASA will have to suspend the contract for the crewed flights until the craft (already delayed a few years) has its bugs ironed out.
If uncrewed automated landing (propulsive, on land) actually succeeds, sending the crew down in a different craft -- by a competitor -- will have been the right move but make them look like they can't get the job done.
Of course, if they send the crew aboard Starliner for return to Earth and it works, it will look more like gambling with their lives than it will look like a success. [/snip]NASA Might Delay Upcoming Crew 9 Mission to Return Stranded Starliner Astronauts to Earth [me, post #23, 8/6/2024, 10:04:31 AM]