Spaceflight 🚀⏳🥱 Last July #Boeing and #NASA officials decided to put a hold on launch preparations. During their final reviews to certify #Starliner for flight nearly a year ago, engineers discovered parts of Starliner's parachute 🪂 deployment system did not meet required safety specifications and that Boeing installed flammable 🔥 tape wrapped around wiring bundles throughout the #spacecraft, creating a potential fire hazard ☠️ https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/02/maybe-just-maybe-boeings-starliner-will-finally-fly-astronauts-this-spring/
#Starliner launch on a #ULA #AtlasV rocket 🚀 currently targeted for 📆 Monday, April 22 https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-invites-media-to-first-astronaut-launch-aboard-boeings-starliner/
Some doors might fly off or similar, nothing to be worried about 🙈 https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/03/despite-turbulence-at-boeing-astronauts-are-ready-to-fly-companys-starliner/
Most likely, they learned a lot about how NOT to create a crew capsule during this time https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/boeing-starliner-launch-nasa-astronauts-njsjmhsc5
The failure load limit of the fabric sections on the parachutes 🪂 was found to be lower than expected, meaning that if one parachute failed, the remaining two would not be able to slow down the #Starliner vehicle on its way down 🙄 https://qz.com/boeing-starliner-spacecraft-astronaut-flight-nasa-1851360764
Ferrying #astronauts 👩🚀 to the #ISS has almost become routine — but not for #Boeing, although awarded a $4.2-billion contract, while #SpaceX received $2.6 billion. Since 2020, SpaceX has ferried eight 8️⃣ operations crews to the base — while Boeing has managed only two unmanned flights https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2024-05-04/boeing-starliner-launch-international-space-station-space-x
#Starliner launch 02:34 UTC 📆 Tuesday, May 7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb3qcR2tUQs
NASA’s Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Launch
#Starliner tests : The #astronauts 👨🚀👩🚀 will "trick" the #spacecraft "into thinking that it doesn't know where it is in space," then manually fly the spacecraft using a #StarTracker 🎇.
The crew will point their heat shield at the atmosphere for re-entry. Around 9 km high, the crew will jettison that heat shield and then deploy their parachute drogues. The three main chutes 🪂 will deploy at 2.5 km. Touchdown will happen in the desert, shortly after the #airbags deploy. https://www.space.com/boeing-starliner-nasa-astronaut-1st-mission-milestones
The crew will point their heat shield at the atmosphere for re-entry. Around 9 km high, the crew will jettison that heat shield and then deploy their parachute drogues. The three main chutes 🪂 will deploy at 2.5 km. Touchdown will happen in the desert, shortly after the #airbags deploy. https://www.space.com/boeing-starliner-nasa-astronaut-1st-mission-milestones
This time the problem was with the rocket, not the spacecraft https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/05/07/boeing-starliner-launch-valve-delay/
The #AtlasV rocket carrying #Boeing's new #Starliner space capsule will be rolled back to its hangar to replace a pressure valve, postponing the long-awaited first crewed test flight of the spacecraft for at least 10 more days, #NASA said on Tuesday https://www.reuters.com/science/first-crewed-test-flight-boeing-starliner-capsule-targeted-may-17-2024-05-07/
#Starliner has been delayed ⏳ again - until at least May 21 - over an issue with the spacecraft's propulsion system 🙄 https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/boeing-starliners-crew-debut-delayed-again-over-spacecraft-issue-2024-05-14/
The flight, which was originally scheduled for May 6, is now set for no earlier than 📆 May 25 https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/05/17/boeing-starliner-launch-delay-may-25/
#SpaceX launched its first two-man crew in 📆 2020. In all, 50 5️⃣0️⃣ people have flown to space aboard #CrewDragon https://www.cbsnews.com/news/persistent-helium-leak-triggers-additional-delay-boeing-hard-luck-starliner-spacecraft/
Persistent helium leak triggers additional delay for Boeing's hard-luck Starliner spacecraft
Ongoing work to resolve a persistent helium leak has pushed the first piloted Starliner flight back at least four more days, to May 25.
A series of issues during a mission could eliminate the capsule's backup thrusters and render it unable to safely return to #Earth. A software fix offered a temporary workaround for the mission, but #Boeing and #NASA will discuss whether a deeper redesign is needed before future flights. Target launch time on 📆 June 1, 12:25 PM ET. If needed #Starliner also has opportunities to fly June 2, 5 and 6. https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/nasa-boeing-clear-two-technical-hurdles-starliners-debut-crew-flight-2024-05-24/
#NASA has cleared #Boeing and #ULA to proceed with a 📆 June 1 launch attempt of #Starliner on a crewed flight test to the #ISS. https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/commercial-space/starliner-crew-flight-test-cleared-june-1-launch
Any more delay ⏳ could require the #AtlasV rocket to stand down to replace time-limited elements of its flight termination system. That, in turn, could lead to more delay thanks to activity at #ISS https://payloadspace.com/boeing-found-yet-another-design-flaw-in-starliner/
#SpaceX completed its first crewed 👨🚀 test mission in 📆 May 2020 https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/06/01/boeing-starliner-launch-live-video-nasa/
#Starliner launch Wed Jun 5, 2024 ⁉️ https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/
Starliner: Boeing launches its first ever crew of humans into space – watch live
Several of #Starliner's spacecraft thrusters went offline for a time. Far more often than originally planned, spacecraft commander Butch Wilmore had to take manual ✋ control of Starliner https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/06/after-a-drama-filled-day-boeings-starliner-finally-finds-its-way/
Wolf480pl
W6KME@spaceflight Good thing it wasn't the BOEING part of the launch that was delayed, but ULA. You know, ULA...the Lockheed-BOEING joint venture. :p