Starliner crewed test flight remains on hold
Starliner crewed test flight remains on hold
NASA and Boeing have further delayed the launch of a crewed test flight of the company’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft without offering a new launch date.
From the Ars Technica article on the subject:
The space agency did not describe what options are on the table, but sources said they range from flying the spacecraft "as is" with a thorough understanding of the leak and confidence it won't become more significant in flight, to removing the capsule from its Atlas V rocket and taking it back to a hangar for repairs.
Theoretically, the former option could permit a launch attempt as soon as next week. The latter alternative could delay the launch until at least late summer.
Late summer! Ouch. Sounds like that's based on ISS parking spot availability.
flying the spacecraft “as is” with a thorough understanding of the leak
Sounds like that might be what they're planning on doing: https://sh.itjust.works/post/19696019
What an embarrassment. This vehicle will probably finally fly at some point, but all these delays are humiliating to America's space program. Incompetence on the part of Boeing.
Hey, at least it's a fixed-price contract. I'm glad that Boeing has to foot the bill for their own incompetence, rather than NASA.