Technology Boeing's Starliner has finally landed. Not flawlessly, but it got the job done

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Content source

https://www.neowin.net/news/boeings-starliner-has-finally-landed-not-flawlessly-but-it-got-the-job-done/

The nine-day-turned-to-three-month test mission of Boeing’s troublesome Starliner module is finally over. Last night, the empty capsule landed safely in White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stayed onboard the International Space Station (ISS), though, after the agency decided the risk of losing the crew during the return mission was above the accepted threshold. The astronauts will come home in February 2025 onboard the competing Crew Dragon capsule of SpaceX.

On the post-flight press conference—which oddly didn’t feature a single Boeing representative—NASA confirmed the crew would be just fine if onboard. However, the agency also emphasized that it stands behind the decision to keep Wilmore and Williams in orbit.

Boeing's Starliner has finally landed. Not flawlessly, but it got the job done

After three months on the ISS, the crew-less Starliner capsule has successfully returned to Earth. NASA stands behind the decision to keep two astronauts on the space station.

www.neowin.net

 

[oldschool]

I just happened to watch the whole press conference last night on CNN. They actually said the landing itself was flawless and hit the target's bullseye. Some thrusters failed on the service module on several occasions, which separates and burns up on re-entry. And 1 or 2 thrusters on the capsule itself also failed on maneuver away from ISS. Aside from Boeing's cost overruns and the sub-contractor's thruster issues, NASA considers their overall program a huge success.

Boeing still operates on the old contractor/subcontractor model, whereas Cuckoo Musk's SpaceX operates vertically, designing and building everything in-house. Boeing may just get out of space flight game altogether.

 

[oldschool]

This gives a more extensive review of what the whole situation is.

Leaving behind its crew, Starliner departs space station and returns to Earth

"We will review the data and determine the next steps for the program," says Boeing's Starliner manager.

arstechnica.com

 

[Oldie1950]

Reversal of an old motto: If it's a Boeing I'm not going.