Boeing Starliner launches to space (but not ISS) (reached ISS in 2022)

[hutchphd]

So is this a win? Do you now do a change and then stuff pink bodies in the next flight? I am mystified.

 

[Dullard]

There will be victory laps. They did accomplish most of their test objectives, but multiple failed thrusters seems like a pretty big asterisk in a test which was supposed to demonstrate readiness for human spaceflight. Particularly so, if the design remediation is significant.

 

[hutchphd]

Shuttle Colombia also accomplished most mission objectives.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled."

 

[berkeman]

Do you now do a change and then stuff pink bodies in the next flight?

You could include Astronaut Propulsion Units along with their spacesuits to serve as a backup...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronaut_propulsion_unit

 

[mfb]

Burning up on reentry is very different from using redundant thrusters.

Starliner's hatch has been closed in preparation for undocking. Planned re-entry path, visibility in the US will be limited to southern New Mexico and small corners of Arizona and Texas.
18:50 ET, that should be in 9:20. Undocking will happen about four hours earlier.

 

[mfb]

It returned to Earth safely.
Now Boeing and NASA will go over every aspect of the flight, fix the thruster issues, and then likely set a launch date for the crewed test flight.

 

[glappkaeft]

Having to use redundant thrusters isn't great but I feel it has been overblown due to previous issues. On Dragon mission CSR-2 three out of four Draco thruster pods failed due to insufficient pressurization which put the spacecraft in Passive Abort Mode. Space X had to wait until they could establish a link with a ground station in Australia before they could issue a manual override. That sounds to me like a bigger deal but I have never seen anyone criticize Space X over that issue.

 

[hutchphd]

but I have never seen anyone criticize Space X over that issue.

The event in question took place in 2013 on the cargo dragon, not on the penultimate uncrewed test flight for a man-rated vehicle. It also did not occur during active firing. The reason it was not treated with grave concern is that it did not warrant such concern.
SpaceX was not criticized because their engineering response was appropriate and successful. Perhaps Boeing will perform well but recent performance casts some doubt on that prospect.

.

 

[mfb]

The event in question took place in 2013 on the cargo dragon, not on the penultimate uncrewed test flight for a man-rated vehicle. It also did not occur during active firing.

And it was resolved in flight, it only delayed docking with the ISS.