Let's go back to the time of paper tape and punch cards and ditch the women/minority/DEI owned small businesses, I say.
Posted on 08/07/2024 3:55:41 PM PDT by hillarys cankles
NASA astronauts stranded due to Boeing's faulty Starliner received horrifying news on Wednesday about their return mission to Earth.
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have already been trapped on the International Space Station (ISS) for more than two months, may not come back to Earth until February 2025.
The US space agency revealed a contingency plan that would launch a two-person crew on SpaceX's Crew-9 mission in September, but still wouldn't bring the crew home until months later.
The announcement is another highly embarrassing blow for the embattled Boeing, which is dealing with a spate of issues plaguing its commercial jets.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I heard they’re afraid the software update has a risk of bricking the Starliner, and they’d not be able to easily remove it from the docking port then. Of course, maybe that’s not true, unless they’re using H1Bs for their software.
Details, details. Give them some retrorockets. Problem solved.
:)
But those were different people with higher standards.
Astronauts covet time in space. For them being told your one or two week mission has been extended to 6 months is like you or me being told you have to extend your Greek island vacation another 3 months. Twist my arm.
I guess they're crazy lol.
I could definitely see that happening.
However, just like the deep sea submersible Titan passengers might admit, there gets to be a point where Frank and Bob and Larry and the overfilled porta potty are laying ontop of you because the damn thing is nose diving to 12,000ft and the experience just doesn’t seem quite as romantic anymore. No?
:)
...and the DEI genZ’ers can’t figure out which button to program to successfully open the hatch for you.
Wait, didn’t the Titan have a hatch opening issue too??
Kinda like.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zop3VG_K9HU
In a way it's too bad SpaceX did such a great job on the Merlin engine used in the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, the Raptor 3 just barely improves on the thrust-to-weight ratio. Based on the thrust and the specific impulse, two Raptor 3 engines could just about replace the 9 Merlins in a F9 equivalent design future vehicle. The FH will be replaced by the Starship and/or its booster.
I got thinking about this because the Sierra Space Dream Chaser minishuttle, and its apparent need for a new ride to space. It hasn't actually been to space or been tested in reentry conditions, but if that works out in some flight tests, and the recycling cost and speed works out, it could become a nice crew option for orbital space.
There's some speculation online that ULA (United Space Alliance), which is up for sale, could be purchased by SpaceX. That would be hilarious, but I doubt that Musk will jump at the chance.
The current plan is to use Dream Chaser for a cargo vehicle which seems like overkill. The company has a plan for a dumpster-like module fitting on the rear, and that would hold much of the cargo, and be reused for ISS waste disposal -- loaded, pushed away, burning up on reentry. In that case, what's the purpose of the glider?
I hope they don't become two "don't touch that!" tourists while the others have their assigned missions to complete.
-PJ
Shades of Morton Thiokol?
-PJ
Starliner = Stuckliner
So it has operating software that can’t be modified? I’m no rocket surgeon, but that seems...unwise.
“Or is there some other bonehead Boeing reason why not?”
“Docking and undocking procedures must be performed by certified Docker Union Members only.” (probably)
This gives a whole new meaning to “If it’s Boeing, I ain’t going.”
“Do they have enough food on board to make it six months”
Northrop Grumman and Space X to the rescue.
Aug 4th
DULLES, Va. – Aug. 4, 2024 – Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) Cygnus spacecraft was successfully launched to the International Space Station by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida in support of the company’s 21st resupply mission (NG-21) under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Service-2 (CRS-2) contract.
NG-21 is carrying over 8,200 pounds of equipment, science experiments and supplies to crew aboard the space station.
Since 2023, Northrop Grumman has provided six reboost services while Cygnus was attached to the station – with the opportunity for more during this mission.
Let's go back to the time of paper tape and punch cards and ditch the women/minority/DEI owned small businesses, I say.
Yes, really.
The Russians have successfully been doing this since 1966, many of those years in which they flew our astronauts ('cause we couldn't), and those three people are three more than that there US Starliner can fly.
“-—There are 2 docking ports.
ONE fits ONLY Soviet machinery.
The other fits ONLY American machinery.
THIS IS A MULTI-BILLION CF.”
The Russians have their side and the USA side is different. The Russians have four ports they use a 1960s era probe style port that Soyuz, ATV, and progress modules use the ESA and Russians. Those ports are not IDA compliant. The American side has two international docking adapter compliant ports one has a Dragon on it the other has starleaker trapped on it. There are also four CBM ports on the American side. CBM are not docking ports they are common berthing module ports. You have to use the robotic arm to capture the module and then berth it to a CBM. This is how Cygnus cargo module is docked right now to the ISS. There are three other CBM spots only two of them can be reached by the robotic arm. NASA could send up a PMA which is how you turn a CBM into a older 95type shuttle port then put a IDA compliant ring on it. This is how the two existing docking ports were made. I don’t think NASA has any PMA left they used three already of the four built one was lost when it’s booster went down.
The choices are send up a Dragon with 6 seats it was designed to hold 7 from the very beginning. Send up a Dragon with only two and shaft two astronauts their spots. Or use Soyuz spacecraft and pay the Russians. NASA suits are compatible with Soyuz but not Dragon so they would need to send up two Dragon type suits for a Dragon ride home. Plus the Boeing craft is stuck to the IDA ring it has the active side of the port and some mental giant didn’t include the software needed to remotely unlock it.someone has to be inside stsrsucker to undock it then spacewalk back to ISS if they don’t want to ride it down to earth....I would rather risk the spacewalk th an ride that crap craft down. It’s gonna burn up for sure he has odds gotta be good on that.
"Sucks to be you, Carl, but you did draw the short straw..."
Id the ISS is scheduled to be destroyed in 2035, just 10 1/2 years away, why are these companies building space vehicles to service it?................
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