What a train wreck.
Space decay
Boeing’s first crewed Starliner mission to the International Space Station has turned out to be a complete disaster.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who do not yet have a return date, remain on the station indefinitely while engineers continue to evaluate the flightworthiness of the stricken spacecraft.
Now it turns out that the massively extended mission could have knock-on effects for other upcoming launches to the ISS. According to to do Ars TechnicaInternal sources ofNASA is now planning its upcoming pushback Group-9 Task From August 18 to September 24, there is a considerable delay.
The SpaceX Crew Dragon mission is currently scheduled to carry a crew of three NASA astronauts and one Rocosmos astronaut to the space station. But if the Starliner returns to Earth without a crew on board, NASA could send a SpaceX spacecraft with two astronauts to make room for Williams and Wilmore’s return flight.
While NASA has yet to comment publicly on the matter — the agency is expected to make its decision public this week — things aren’t looking good for Boeing’s Starliner, which has already seen years of delays, costs and major technical problems. Before it got stuck in the station.
Port Authority
According to Ars, NASA is mulling the possibility of repatriating two astronauts stranded aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft for more than a month. Engineers are still investigating several thrusters that malfunctioned when the Starliner docked with the station two months ago today.
NASA is in a tough spot. The space station has only two docking ports for crew vehicles, and Boeing’s struggling Starliner blocks one of them. Another was picked up by the SpaceX Crew-8 spacecraft, which is scheduled to return by the end of the month.
Even without a crew on board, NASA will have to weigh some considerable risks. In a worst-case scenario, the Starliner may not be able to correct its own orbit and collide with the station after disengagement. Ars.
Meanwhile, Boeing is determined to make great progress by collecting data throughout its first crewed flight test.
„Boeing remains confident in the Starliner spacecraft and its ability to return safely with crew,” the company wrote in a letter. Report Last week. „We continue to support NASA’s requests for additional testing, data, analysis and reviews to ensure the spacecraft’s safe descent and landing capabilities.”
More about Starliner: Looks like Boeing’s Starliner was a complete failure
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