27 June 2024

Cannot Make Space Ships Either

I'm not sure what exactly is currently wrong with the Boeing Starliner, but NASA is not comfortable using it for reentry, which has left its team stranded in the ISS for the current time:

Boeing is doing damage control as its first crewed commercial spacecraft remains on the International Space Station (ISS) with no confirmed return date.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams traveled in Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on June 5 after a series of technical delays and were scheduled to stay docked in space for between eight and 10 days.

However, 12 days after the crew's arrival, Boeing delayed the spacecraft's return until June 26.

Another delay was announced on Friday. The aviation company said it needed time to schedule two spacewalks and to assess issues on board following five helium leaks.

As Business Insider previously reported, helium supports Starlink's reaction control system thrusters, which allows them to fire.

In a statement to the Financial Times, Boeing said the delays were not considered a failure.

It should be noted here that the only thing that Boeing considers a failure is something that prevents them from using stock buybacks to goose the value of the options that senior executives hold.

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