Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

The first Boeing Starliner to fly astronauts to space performed a crucial in-space test Saturday (July 27) as the next mission faces a months-long delay.

Engineers tested Starliner's reaction control system (RCS) thrusters to prepare for a wider agency review that will evaluate the spacecraft's readiness for landing NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams sometime in August, if all goes to plan...

Starliner faced issues during the debut astronaut docking with the International Space Station (ISS) on June 6. While it eventually made it, helium leaks and issues with five thrusters delayed the event. Starliner is rated to leave the ISS in case of emergency, but before astronauts attempt a nominal departure, engineers are trying to understand why those issues happened.

Figuring out what happened is key to the readiness of the next mission, Starliner-1, which is supposed to spend six months on the ISS in 2025. On Friday (July 28), NASA announced a delay of that mission to August 2025, past an initial expectation of early winter...

Starliner-1 will delay to allow "a little bit more time for Starliner to complete the mods from the new tests," NASA's Steve Stich told reporters. Stich is NASA's commercial crew program manager.
Boeing's Starliner tests thrusters at ISS as NASA reviews options for astronauts' return to Earth | Elizabeth Howell | Space.com | July 29 2024 ("published 2 days ago")

1 posted on 07/31/2024 4:39:58 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies ]


To: SunkenCiv

I’m certain this has nothing to do with Musk’s support of Trump and free speech.


2 posted on 07/31/2024 4:44:43 AM PDT by CTyank
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: SunkenCiv

NASA is currently trying to study the risks associated with these issues before returning the astronauts ...


Which, since there must be more than one committee studying this vast & perplexing problem, could take years, Unions willing.


3 posted on 07/31/2024 4:49:37 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: SunkenCiv

If I’m the astronaut stuck in the ISS I’m refusing to return on that leaking time bomb and I’m begging NASA to have Elon bring me home in a Space X capsule.


5 posted on 07/31/2024 4:58:26 AM PDT by The Louiswu (Pray for Peace in the world.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: SunkenCiv
Translated, per missing headlines:

Astronauts Stranded on ISS; NASA Wrings Hands Over Boeing Lies


6 posted on 07/31/2024 5:00:51 AM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: SunkenCiv

It’s called the MIC that Eisenhower warned us about. The neoCONs are huge advocates for crony capitalism aka the MIC that grifts off public contracts funneled through their co-conspirators in CONgress.


9 posted on 07/31/2024 5:06:26 AM PDT by imabadboy99
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: SunkenCiv

As a Twenty 21 year plus employee of Boeing, Seattle I can tell you what has killed Boeing.
The McDonald Douglas merger.
Boeing used to be the best, but then the “Mc DO D” accountants grabbed on to my company and destroyed it.
I said Fu$k it and left as did many other old timers.
You see the results today.
A bunch of weenie people more worried about stockholder
Share value, than producing the best engineered products in the world.
Making the best product isn’t “Tangible” on a spread sheet but it will make you #1.
Being #1 will pay the bills and make you the best.
I’d rather work for the company that makes the best product in the world than one that pays the best dividends to stockholders.
BTW I was a Boeing stockholder.


10 posted on 07/31/2024 5:16:55 AM PDT by rellic (rough)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: SunkenCiv

If you were an astronaut, which company would you rather have strapped to your back side?


12 posted on 07/31/2024 5:19:36 AM PDT by waredbird
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: SunkenCiv

NASA loves to throw money away


15 posted on 07/31/2024 5:24:04 AM PDT by butlerweave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: SunkenCiv

How dare Musk expose the dirty politics of Boeing/the government!


22 posted on 07/31/2024 6:53:41 AM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: SunkenCiv

For years i heard about this “Starliner”.
Never looked at a picture of it.
Just a few months ago I actually looked.
Holy Crap!!!!
They pulled the prints from the old apollo command module and updated them, and they still can’t get it right!!!


23 posted on 07/31/2024 6:56:31 AM PDT by joe fonebone (And the people said NO! The End)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: SunkenCiv

One factor not being discussed in the “mainstream” media is that Starliner’s internal batteries will be dead in a few weeks (sometime in early September), and once that happens it will become a useless brick. I’ve been firmly convinced all along that the two astronauts will have to be brought back some other way, and that Starliner will be released to burn up in the atmosphere. I just hope that NASA finally swallows its pride and tasks SpaceX with rescuing them so that both NASA and Boeing have to suffer the humiliation they so richly deserve. I think not wanting to admit failure is the primary reason why they keep futilely digging in this pile of horse dung hoping to find a pony somewhere within it.


24 posted on 07/31/2024 7:06:31 AM PDT by noiseman (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson