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Astronauts stranded in space due to multiple issues with Boeing's Starliner — and the window for a return flight is closing
Live Science ^ | 6/24/24 | Ben Turner

Posted on 06/24/2024 7:41:11 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom

Editor's note: NASA announced on Friday that Starliner's troubleshooting has been extended for a third time, meaning that the astronauts will stay aboard the International Space Station indefinitely until some time in July.


Two NASA astronauts who rode to orbit on Boeing's Starliner are stranded in space aboard the ISS after engineers discovered numerous issues with the Boeing spacecraft. Teams on the ground are now racing to assess Starliner's status.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were originally scheduled to return to Earth on June 13 after a week on the ISS, but their stay has been extended for a third time due to the ongoing issues.

...Boeing's Starliner capsule successfully blasted off...on June 5. But during the 25-hour flight, engineers discovered five separate helium leaks to the spacecraft's thruster system.

...to give engineers time to troubleshoot the faults, NASA has announced it will push back the perilous return flight, extending the crew's stay on the space station to at least three weeks.

"We've learned that our helium system is not performing as designed," Mark Nappi, Boeing's Starliner program manager, said at a news conference on June 18. "Albeit manageable, it's still not working like we designed it. So we've got to go figure that out."

...NASA and Boeing engineers assess the vital hardware issues aboard the vessel, including five helium leaks to the system that pressurizes the spacecraft's propulsion system, and five thruster failures to its reaction-control system.

After powering the thrusters up on June 15, engineers found that most of these issues appeared to be at least partially resolved, but their exact causes remain unknown. However, the Harmony module's limited fuel means Starliner can only stay docked for 45 days, so the window for a safe return flight is narrowing.

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


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: affirmativeaction; astronauts; astronautsstranded; boeing; dei; die; diversity; nasa; oops; starliner; stranded; woke
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To: Sertorius

This is potentially another Apollo 1 where astronauts die on a substandard government craft with sloppy quality control a graft.


81 posted on 06/24/2024 9:33:27 AM PDT by sarge83
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To: chuckee
Re: Didn't Earn It (DEI) executive vice president of Boeing Company / president and chief executive officer of Boeing Defense, Space & Security - (Post 76)

That bio reads like someone who just kept the computers plugged in.

82 posted on 06/24/2024 9:36:44 AM PDT by T.B. Yoits
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

“Boeing” and “Engineering” seem to be contradictory terms these days


83 posted on 06/24/2024 9:39:12 AM PDT by llevrok (“In a time of deceit telling, the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell)
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To: NorthMountain

“They are a region of near-Earth space best avoided by launching on a high-inclination orbit.”

No human has passed through this area for over fifty years despite it being “safe”.

Lol.


84 posted on 06/24/2024 9:45:41 AM PDT by cgbg ("Our democracy" = Their Kleptocracy)
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To: cgbg

No human has NEEDED to pass AROUND this area for over 50 years.

LOL.

At least you admit that some humans DID pass AROUND it 50 years ago. That’s progress.

LOL

LOL

LOL


85 posted on 06/24/2024 9:49:40 AM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: dforest
Now 55 years later we can’t even get these people home from the ISS orbiting the earth.

Crew Dragon would like to have a word with you.

86 posted on 06/24/2024 9:50:31 AM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: NorthMountain

I admit nothing.

It is just that there is no dispute about the last fifty years.

We will know the facts soon enough—Musk is going to have to deal with it.

There is no point debating when we will know for sure either way in the next few years.


87 posted on 06/24/2024 9:52:32 AM PDT by cgbg ("Our democracy" = Their Kleptocracy)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Putin to the rescue?


88 posted on 06/24/2024 9:56:00 AM PDT by kenmcg (ti hi o)
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To: cgbg
I admit nothing.

Pathetic.

Musk is going to have to deal with it.

Apollo dealt with it the late '60s and early '70s, as you are well aware.

LOL

LOL

LOL

89 posted on 06/24/2024 9:57:14 AM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: NorthMountain

We have debated Apollo in many past threads.

You know my views.

I know yours.

Musk will deal with the real world—not a debating club.


90 posted on 06/24/2024 10:00:57 AM PDT by cgbg ("Our democracy" = Their Kleptocracy)
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To: Thunder 6

lol...todays ignorant journalists!


91 posted on 06/24/2024 10:01:53 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“When exposing a crime is treated like a crime, you are being ruled by criminals” – Edward Snowden)
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To: Tom Tetroxide

lol. “Some”?


92 posted on 06/24/2024 10:02:33 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“When exposing a crime is treated like a crime, you are being ruled by criminals” – Edward Snowden)
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To: NorthMountain

They hate Musk.

They should already be talking to him.


93 posted on 06/24/2024 10:03:01 AM PDT by dforest ( )
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To: cgbg

Apollo already dealt with the real world, so we’re not “debating”. I know what I’m talking about. You, OTOH ...

I do have a question for you, though: In your belief system, how do the UFO Jockeys handle the Van Allen radiation belts?

LOL

LOL

LOL


94 posted on 06/24/2024 10:03:56 AM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: NorthMountain

“how do the UFO Jockeys handle the Van Allen radiation belts?”

Ask them if you meet them—good luck!


95 posted on 06/24/2024 10:05:26 AM PDT by cgbg ("Our democracy" = Their Kleptocracy)
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To: dforest

Right now, as of this writing, a Dragon spacecraft is currently docked to the ISS.


96 posted on 06/24/2024 10:05:59 AM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Musk’s Dragon capsule is booked solid for the next few years. They’ll be there a while.


97 posted on 06/24/2024 10:06:24 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: iamgalt

“Boeing’s Space Division responsible for the Starliner spacecraft is primarily located in Houston, Texas”


98 posted on 06/24/2024 10:06:26 AM PDT by steve86 (Numquam accusatus, numquam ad curiam ibit, numquam ad carcerem™)
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To: cgbg

I see.

You don’t have an answer.

Fascinating.

LOL

LOL

LOL


99 posted on 06/24/2024 10:06:58 AM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: NorthMountain

I have nothing to teach those who will not or cannot learn.

This issue will be settled in the real world.


100 posted on 06/24/2024 10:08:20 AM PDT by cgbg ("Our democracy" = Their Kleptocracy)
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