Posted on 02/07/2020 4:27:20 PM PST by BenLurkin
The new software issue was discovered during the Starliner's flight, according to panel member Paul Hill. A software fix was made just hours before the capsule returned.
"While this anomaly was corrected in flight, if it had gone uncorrected, it would have led to erroneous thruster firings and uncontrolled motion during [service module] separation for deorbit, with the potential for a catastrophic spacecraft failure," he said, according to Space News.
In a blog post Friday, NASA said its investigation with Boeing has found 11 "top-priority corrective actions" so far with more to be identified.
"There were numerous instances where the Boeing software quality processes either should have or could have uncovered the defects," NASA said.
NASA officials are still determining if another uncrewed test flight of the Boeing Starliner is needed before putting astronauts on board. But Boeing has already booked a $410 million Q4 charge in case NASA orders another uncrewed test flight.
At a press conference NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine acknowledged that the Boeing Starliner test flight "had a lot of anomalies." But when asked whether there will be another Starliner uncrewed flight, he said it's too early to tell that with an independent investigation still ongoing.
The possible "catastrophic" glitch could have resulted in the Starliner module and thruster bumping into each other during separation, officials said. In theory, it could have damaged the heat shield, depending on where it bumped into each other. The crew module could also have become unstable and started to tumble in space.
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
On the dance floor you always “do the bump” with your hips . . never the thrusters.
That doesn’t sound good.
What has happened to Boeing? From the 737Max to this, Boeing has lost it’s edge.
This sounds reminiscent of the failed management that led to the MCAS catastrophe. What on Earth has happened to Boeing? At this point, I think every one of their products needs a top to bottom re-evaluation , and their management structure needs a major overhaul.
I visit KSC regularly. Have since the mid ‘60s. They have a beautiful space mirror there with the names of all astronauts and cosmonauts that have died in the service of exploring space. There are quite enough names on there already. This is how you get more.
If it’s Boeing it aint going !!!
Better off flying in Musk’s Dragon.
Software? Did Boeing use $9 per hour Indians to learn to code on this spacecraft?
I’ve become a big Spacex fan. Bezos still hasn’t flown anything beyond an unmanned suborbital prototype and Musk is launching 20+ per year. Boeing is a joke...look at SLS.
Who the hell is in charge of quality control for coding?
737Max Starliner?
Hmmmm. That word might get ‘mare’ pete all ‘cited and stuff.
If it’s Boeing I ain’t going!
Jeeze he’s landing all his boosters on the pad on land and sea and reusing them. Damn .....he put one of his Tesla’s on a solar orbit that crosses mars orbit. Amazing!
Too much reliance on computers.
I wouldn’t doubt it.
Have Boeing CEO and a few directors ride it for the first time, instead of astronauts.
I believe that the acquisition of McDonnel-Douglas and their corporate baggage killed Boeing.
Boeing should be forced to do what SpaceX just did....successfully.
A live in flight abort test.
Plus send another unmanned Starliner to the ISS that they failed
to do...successfully.
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