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NASA, Boeing delay Starliner astronaut landing again, to study helium leaks and thruster issues
Space dot com ^ | June 22, 2024 | Mike Wall

Posted on 06/23/2024 12:48:23 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

Starliner had been scheduled to come home on June 26, but it will now stay aloft until at least July 2...

Starliner's current mission, known as Crew Flight Test (CFT), sent NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the ISS. CFT launched on June 5 and arrived at the orbiting lab a day later.

But, as Stich noted, that arrival was not perfectly smooth. During its chasedown of the ISS, Starliner experienced problems with five of its 28 reaction control system (RCS) thrusters. Four of them were eventually brought back online.

In addition, CFT team members have noticed five small helium leaks in Starliner's propulsion system. One was spotted before launch but not deemed a serious issue; four cropped up after the capsule deployed from its rocket, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V.

Starliner was initially scheduled to spend about a week at the ISS on this shakeout cruise. But on June 9, NASA and Boeing announced that its departure had been pushed back to no earlier than June 18, to accommodate a planned June 13 NASA spacewalk at the ISS and to allow more time for Starliner checkouts.

Then, on Tuesday (June 18), the planned departure date shifted again, to June 26...

Certification involves clearing Starliner to fly six-month astronaut missions to the ISS for NASA. SpaceX already conducts those flights with its Crew Dragon capsule; Elon Musk's company is in the middle of its eighth contracted long-duration crewed mission.

(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy
KEYWORDS: astronomy; boeing; butchwilmore; elonmusk; iss; nasa; spacex; starliner; starlink; suniwilliams
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To: Reno89519

They should stop giving Elon the chances to look good when it comes to doing things in space.

I would have 3 capsules there overnite with pizza and hookers ready to go!


21 posted on 06/23/2024 7:54:34 AM PDT by Delta 21 (If anyone is treasonous, it is those who call me such.)
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To: kickstart

Until you are dealing with human life in a void of the negative pressure of space and the fuel required to bring them home ALIVE.


22 posted on 06/23/2024 7:57:16 AM PDT by Delta 21 (If anyone is treasonous, it is those who call me such.)
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To: BenLurkin

See, this shows once again how there needs to be a Dollar Tree in orbit.


23 posted on 06/23/2024 8:04:26 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Sounds like the Boeing Starliner blueprints have USSR stamped on it from their early crafts.


24 posted on 06/23/2024 8:35:55 AM PDT by Vaduz
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To: SunkenCiv

Boeing ain’t what it used to be...


25 posted on 06/23/2024 9:57:23 AM PDT by SuperLuminal ( Where is Samuel Adams when we so desperately need him)
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To: SunkenCiv

NASA ain’t what it used to be...


26 posted on 06/23/2024 9:58:44 AM PDT by SuperLuminal ( Where is Samuel Adams when we so desperately need him)
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To: SuperLuminal
NASA's been just another gubmint pork barrel for a long while. Richard Shelby changed parties to remain in a position to benefit Alabama's aerospace industry, and managed to delay development of SpaceX. Overall, short of locking him up (which is what Biden will do if he gets another term), Musk and his engineering powerhouses have prevailed. This past week, a Falcon 9 landed on an offshore droneship for the 250th such landing, and my guess is will orbit the Moon and return before the end of 2025.

Years ago Boeing had the "dragon lady" upper hand in procurement at the DoD; before that, during the SST competition in the 1960s, the company pitched a proposal that neither they nor anyone else could build, just to keep the contract out of the hands of Lockheed. Ultimately, the US SST program budget was devoured by Vietnam.

27 posted on 06/23/2024 10:24:09 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
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To: SunkenCiv

really you believe this crap, YES starliner has issues period.
starliner is in quesent mode ie in sleep mode while docked to ISS. the main problem is the HE used to pressure the fuel lines for the RCS thrusters plus two that failed during docking. more to the point boeing has another starliner build
what upgrades does boeing need to make before flying again.


28 posted on 06/23/2024 10:48:01 AM PDT by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
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To: Ronaldus Magnus III

NO damn some people are just so lame
starship is not a finished product


29 posted on 06/23/2024 10:49:47 AM PDT by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
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To: markman46

Too bad you don’t take your own tagline seriously.


30 posted on 06/23/2024 11:48:09 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
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To: SunkenCiv

If SpaceX has to rescue these people, Boeing’s space program is over.


31 posted on 06/23/2024 11:54:30 AM PDT by FrankRizzo890
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To: FrankRizzo890

Probably, but it will depends on who’s deciding who gets paid vs overpaid.


32 posted on 06/23/2024 1:29:57 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
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To: SunkenCiv

actualy I do take my tag line seriously


33 posted on 06/25/2024 10:58:24 AM PDT by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
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To: SunkenCiv

They are delibertaly finding fault and publicizing it heavily to get back at Musk for becoming politically active.


34 posted on 06/25/2024 11:00:38 AM PDT by DouglasKC
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