Boeing's Starliner proves better at torching cash than reaching orbit

The Register (UK) ^ | 2 Aug 2024 | Richard Speed

[bgill]

Yikes, that thing is creepy.

Oh, I get it. They're playing the 'ol gimme $$$$ or "risk remains that we may record additional losses in future periods".

[SaveFerris]

I think I need more coffee

or cocoa

[SaveFerris]

I was gonna say, I hope they didn’t add the “Max” designation.........

That thing is really starting to scare me with all of the delays. I think they need Elon Musk to the rescue here.

[T.B. Yoits]

Boeing can’t call the Starleaker a spacecraft until it can successfully navigate space.

[Reily]

The problem is no matter how many Elon Musks you hire HR departments you fire. As long as there are federal\state government requirements that you hire based on non-merit these problems remain and fester. The issue has been around longer then the acronym DEI. What we are seeing now is the consequences of doing that for 50+ years.

[RckyRaCoCo]

“As the man in charge, I must accept full responsibility, but not the blame. Let me explain the difference. People who are to blame lose their jobs; people who are responsible do not.”

[SaveFerris]

It definitely hurt me in I/T

All-of-a-sudden I’m a fish out of water with no decent path

sigh

[cgbg]

Let the astronauts vote on it.

If they split one to one force them to stay there.

:-)

[Reily]

One of NASA’s problems was it adopted every project management fad that came out of academic MBA-land. Another problem and it compounded with the management fads was Congresscriiters\Senators using NASA as a jobs program. Glenn was among the worst at doing that.

[Organic Panic]

What do they care? It not their money.

[Political Junkie Too]

It is now almost ten years since NASA handed Boeing a contract to develop a vehicle to transport crew to and from the ISS.

Boeing will take its cues from the auto industry.

Going to the ISS comes with the purchase of the vehicle. Coming back from the ISS requires a subscription service.

-PJ

[Saintgermain]

America right now is a perfect example of what happens to a successful business when you hire all the wrong people. And keep on making the wrong choices when voting.

[PAR35]

Congresscriiters\Senators using NASA as a jobs program.

It always was. Stennis had Huntsville and the rocket test center later named for him. LBJ got the manned space facility at Clear Lake. Nelson made sure Cape Canaveral was protected but it was Smather's baby. California got the JPL and later the Vandenberg launches; Ohio had the Lewis facility from the 50s (later stripping off his name and adding Glenn's) and later got what is now the Armstrong facilty.

There are political reasons for Canaveral winning out over Wallops (which is still in use, but didn't get the big launches). As well as the role politics played in the other job sites.

Of course, I don't know if they thought they were doing any favors in the mid-40s when they dropped a train load of Nazis in Alabama.

[SaveFerris]

We make money the old-fashioned way: Cost overruns!!

I think that’s from a movie but I can’t remember

[hal ogen]

Are those DEI astronauts still in the ISS? Do they have to sign a long term lease?

[SunkenCiv]

• Boeing names new CEO as it posts loss of more than $1.4 billion in second quarter [07/31/2024]
• Boeing Wins Space Mission Contracts Owing To Its 'Armies Of Lobbyists,' Says SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Amid Starliner Return Delay [07/31/2024]
• NASA insists Boeing Starliner crew 'not stranded' on ISS [06/29/2024]
• SpaceX May Have to Rescue NASA Astronauts Stranded in the International Space Station Due to Boeing Starliner’s Multiple Helium Leaks: REPORT [06/26/2024]
• How SpaceX could end up rescuing stranded astronauts if Boeing’s Starliner can’t be fixed [06/26/2024]

[Thud]

Hey, it got to orbit. It just can’t get back intact.

[minnesota_bound]

I saw a video that said that the Starliner is unable to land remotely. I suggest having the new guy take the ride back just in case something goes wrong....