NASA still working to 'correct and rectify' Boeing Starliner issues after 1st test flight with astronauts

[Admin]

Boeing's Starliner had propulsion issues after launching on its first test mission with astronauts. Six weeks after the mission concluded, NASA is working on what to do next.

NASA still working to 'correct and rectify' Boeing Starliner issues after 1st test flight with astronauts : Read more

 

[Mars Tafts]

When they finish whatever ground testing or re-design NASA feels is needed launch another mission with supplies. If the spacecraft makes it to the ISS without any issues bring the two astronauts home on that craft as it it show it can re-entry without a problem. If all that happens then NASA can pay for that mission. If there are still problems does not then Boeing can pay for it.

 

[billslugg]

When they finish whatever ground testing or re-design NASA feels is needed launch another mission with supplies. If the spacecraft makes it to the ISS without any issues bring the two astronauts home on that craft as it it show it can re-entry without a problem. If all that happens then NASA can pay for that mission. If there are still problems does not then Boeing can pay for it.

Boeing was obligated to demonstrate success under a fixed price contract. Once demonstrated then NASA would pay for subsequent flights. The most likely scenario IMHO is ULA will fold.

 

[24launch]

This statement is incorrect:

The first operational mission, Starliner-1, is supposed to go forward in 2025; that said, the timeline, and the three assigned astronauts, may change as Starliner's future becomes clearer.

NASA had already said that while Starliner might fly in 2025 on some unspecified mission (test? manned/unmanned? cargo only?), the first operational crew mission will be NET (no earlier than) 2026. Both the NET Feb 2025 and NET July 2025 crew rotation missions are already scheduled with SpaceX.

This new excuse initially coming from Boeing and now parroted by NASA just kills me:

SpaceX's Crew Dragon, which ferries astronaut crews, is based on the Dragon cargo spacecraft that first flew to space in 2012. Boeing didn't have a cargo craft to base Starliner on, so that capsule's development was more involved.

Back when commercial crew was first being proposed and funded both frmr NASA Admin Charles Bolden and then Senator Bill Nelson lobbied HARD against it and said all the money should be given to Boeing because they are the known, proven company who were there during Apollo, built the shuttles, etc. They didn't have any interest in some fledgling company run by a foreign, eccentric billionaire. Thankfully the likes of Lori Garver fought hard for CCP or we'd still be relying on Russia to ferry astronauts.

Just a comment to Bill's comment, Starliner is Boeing, not ULA. They launch on the now discontinued ULA Atlas V rockets of which I believe there are only 6 remaining for the 6 contracted crew missions (the rest have been bought by Amazon for Kuiper launches), so if NASA requires any more test launches then Boeing can't fulfill their contract of 6 operational missions and get their full payout - though with their now $2Bil loss on Starliner, even completing the contract they will still be at a loss.

Will be interesting to see what happens. Though the CEO of Boeing said they're committed to Starliner, it's the Shareholders and Board who will ultimately decide its fate. Keep in mind too, Boeing is the Prime contractor on NASA's SLS rocket, which is still seeing continued massive cost overruns and awards given out despite missed milestones (the argument being it keeps the Boeing engineers incentivized to go their very best!) so while Boeing is losing money on Starliner, their Space division is still pulling in bucket loads of taxpayer funds on that lovely cost plus contract and will all through the end of the decade while Artemis remains funded.

 

[Helio]

There are numerous reports that Boeing is considering a sell-off of this program. Their stock, per Bloomberg, states are up because of this possibility.

 

[fj.torres]

There are numerous reports that Boeing is considering a sell-off of this program.

Seen some.
But not the ARTEMIS contracts.
Nobody willingly gives up a juicy cost+ contract.

 

[24launch]

I myself just saw the headlines about Boeing looking for a buyer for it's fixed-cost contracts including Starliner but yep, excluding the SLS cash cow:

(Reuters) -Boeing is exploring the sale of some parts of its space business, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The NASA business that Boeing is exploring a sale of includes the troubled Starliner space vehicle and operations that support the International Space Station, but excludes the unit building NASA's Space Launch System, the newspaper reported.

The article is on Yahoo news if you don't want to deal with the WSJ paywall.

The question remains, who would buy it? MAYBE Bezos purely for the technology knowhow. But Blue already gave a pass to the purchase of ULA - rumored ULA is asking waaaay too much - so seems unlikely.

 

[edd]

Lack of launchers for another CFT plus all the contracted missions, Boeing's massive losses, the U.S. election and potential for increasing politicization of the landscape, all pull future decisions away from the hands of engineers and scientists and toward the hands of politicians and bean counters. Astronauts beware.