Sounds like:
Posted on 02/29/2020 8:17:01 AM PST by rktman
The Boeing Starliner didn't see any testing shortcuts before its flawed flight test, officials said Friday, but the company vowed to expand tests in the future. Boeing (BA) stock fell.
In December, the Boeing Starliner set off on an uncrewed test, but it failed to reach the International Space Station as planned because a software error prevented it from getting into the proper orbit.
It was later revealed that an internal timer on the capsule was off by 11 hours, causing the Boeing Starliner to believe that it was further into the mission. Another software issue was found with the thrusters that could have lead to a catastrophic spacecraft failure.
"I really don't want you or anyone to have the impression that this team, tried to take shortcuts," said John Mulholland, Boeing Starliner program manager, told reporters Friday. The software team "did an abundance of testing. Obviously we have gaps to go fill."
A report the Orlando Sentinel earlier this week found that Boeing did not perform a full, end-to-end integrated test of Starliner with United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket. (ULA is a Lockheed Martin (LMT)- Boeing joint venture.)
Mulholland admitted that if the company had run the full integrated test with
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
Testing results in failures, further testing results in success!
Sounds like:
Absolutely No Corners cut!
now, about those wings...
I worked for a competitor of Boeing, and was responsible for writing test requirements for large weapon systems. I cannot imagine not doing a total end-to-end test. Had I suggested it I am confident management reviews would have added it back into the plans.
End-to-end testing is very difficult. “Plus counts” (simulating missile flight - including live ordnance) are hard to pull off. It is the only time all of the pieces must work together. We now see what can happen when this step is skipped. I cannot imagine getting away with this . . .
“I worked for a competitor of Boeing, and was responsible for writing test requirements for large weapon systems. I cannot imagine not doing a total end-to-end test.”
I seriously doubt that there has EVER been an full-up end-to-end test of something as complex as this, without some ‘findings’ to be worked. And that is the purpose of such test.
“We now see what can happen when this step is skipped. I cannot imagine getting away with this . . .”
It’s a balancing act...NASA wants to ‘trust’ the contractors, but, sadly, that can result in cost-cutting that would otherwise never be permitted.
The left has ruined our iconic companies that were, not too long ago, the envy of the world.
Boeing now plans to do this test. They did the tests in parts - not putting them all together. Had they extended their testing of the launch just a little longer this fault would have been uncovered. Sloppy work.
Boeing needs to use a checklist.
FTA: an internal timer on the capsule was off by 11 hours, causing the Boeing Starliner to believe that it was further into the mission. Another software issue was found with the thrusters that could have lead to a catastrophic spacecraft failure.
The fundamental problem with the Starliner is its software, the writing of which was outsourced to Asian subcontractors. As it turns out, that software was not fully reviewed and tested because of the cost of doing so. In other words, Boeing cut corners by using offshore non-American contractors and has ended up with unreliable software to run the Starliner, trusting to faith and testing to get by.
Next time they should check all the clocks.
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