Posted on 08/30/2024 6:27:38 AM PDT by Salman
NASA and Boeing teams have completed a comprehensive Delta-Flight Test Readiness Review, giving the green light for the uncrewed CST-100 Starliner spacecraft to undock from the International Space Station. The undocking is scheduled for no earlier than 6:04 p.m. EDT on Friday, Sept. 6, depending on weather and operational readiness.
Once Starliner undocks, it will take approximately six hours to reach its designated landing site at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. The spacecraft is expected to land around 12:03 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, using parachutes and inflated airbags to soften the impact. Recovery teams at White Sands will secure the spacecraft and prepare it for transport back to Boeing's Starliner factory at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
This mission follows NASA's decision on Aug. 24 to conduct the Starliner return without a crew. In preparation, mission managers and flight controllers have updated the spacecraft's systems with mission-specific data, ensuring that Starliner can perform a fully autonomous return. The spacecraft will be monitored and controlled remotely from Starliner Mission Control in Houston and Boeing Mission Control Center in Florida, with teams on standby to intervene if necessary during undocking, re-entry, and landing procedures.
Starliner has previously demonstrated its capability with successful uncrewed entries and landings during two orbital flight tests, including an autonomous undocking from the station.
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(Excerpt) Read more at spacedaily.com ...
Get that? They already had the capability of bringing it down empty, but neglected to prepare for the possibility.
At least they will free up a dock for later.
Intervene? Once it’s on its way, what are you going to do? Sheesh. But, as you said, freeing up the docking port will be a plus.
Feel sorry for the folks that went up in that pig and have to stay until February.
Unjunk space!
That piece of junk in space is one of the biggest ripoffs the American taxpayer has ever been robbed for to build.
The first flight of every new spacecraft should have the lead engineer and the administrator of NASA on it.
It makes me sad to see what’s become of Boeing. It is a metaphor for our nation.
The Leaders(LOL) of NASA and Boeing should have taken this trip and be made to make the return trip
The US relied heavily on Russian rockets servicing the Space Station for at least a decade. Maybe they can ask Putin, very, very nicely to bring them down safely?
Is there anything the Canada Arm can grab to remove it and throw it away ? LOL
I wonder if Las Vegas is taking any action on whether the capsule burns up in space or makes it back safely.
Anxious to see if Starliner turns into the Starsplatter. At least it will be unmanned.
[NASA and Boeing Prepare for Uncrewed Starliner Return Mission]
Glad it will be uncrewed - for the sake of the crew
Goodness gracious.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_FAqr6rP4w
I would gladly strap bill Nelson in. Useless POS.
This was also a much better use for an arsenal of boosters held by the former Soviet Union. Peace does have its benefits.
Insufficient helium to control re-entry.
6:04 PM EDT? That’s 5:04 PM here. I wonder if I will still be able to see the tail of the Boeing comet.
bttt
Ask for volunteers from the NASA Flight or Engineer sections to ride the comet back home.
Yeah…I think it would be more accurate to say they are “dropping it” from the ISS. LOL
He is another ancient politician with his nose deep in the trough.
Why can’t these old folks retire?
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