Is Boeing Giving Up On Starliner??? NASA Says Something Weird Happening on Starliner...
Summary
TLDRThe Boeing Starliner spacecraft has faced significant delays, spending over 50 days in space, six times longer than planned. NASA and Boeing are grappling with technical issues, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks, which have postponed the return of two astronauts on Starliner's first manned test flight. Despite extensive testing, a return date remains uncertain, casting doubt on the program's future and prompting discussions about potential reliance on SpaceX for astronaut return missions. Financial strains and technical challenges for Boeing, along with competition from SpaceX, raise questions about the Starliner's long-term viability.
Takeaways
- 🚀 The Boeing Starliner spacecraft has been in space for over 50 days, exceeding its initial planned duration by six times.
- 🔍 NASA and Boeing are facing significant challenges with the Starliner project, with its readiness for a return date still uncertain.
- 🤔 There are concerns about whether Boeing might consider abandoning the Starliner project due to mounting difficulties.
- 📅 The return of the Starliner and its crew has been delayed multiple times, with the earliest expected return now pushed to August.
- 💡 The issues with the Starliner are serious and may have been underestimated from the start, suggesting deeper problems that were not openly discussed.
- 🛰️ NASA and Boeing have been conducting extensive tests to understand the issues with the spacecraft, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks.
- 🔧 Test results indicate that heat buildup inside the thrusters may be causing Teflon seals to bulge, restricting propellant flow, and engineers are working on solutions.
- 🛑 The manual flying of the Starliner by astronauts has been abandoned due to the stress it puts on the thrusters.
- 💡 Despite the delays and issues, NASA remains confident in the Starliner's ability to return the astronauts safely to Earth, with contingency plans in place.
- 💼 Boeing's financial strength lies primarily in its commercial aircraft business, with the Starliner and defense space sector contributing less to overall revenue.
- 🔮 The future of the Starliner program is uncertain, with the potential for cancellation if ongoing issues cannot be resolved, and competition from rivals like SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft.
Q & A
How long has the Starliner spacecraft been in space, exceeding its initial plan?
-The Starliner has spent over 50 days in space, which is more than six times the initial plan of just about eight days.
What challenges are Boeing and NASA facing with the Starliner project?
-Boeing and NASA are facing significant challenges in maintaining the Starliner project due to increasing difficulties and delays, which have raised questions about the future of the spacecraft.
What is the current status of the Starliner's return date for the first manned test flight?
-As of the press conference on the 25th, there is no set return date for the two astronauts on the first manned test flight, with the earliest expected return now in late August.
What issues have been identified with the Starliner's thrusters during the mission?
-The Starliner's thrusters have unexpectedly shut down during the mission, and testing has suggested that heat building up inside the thrusters may be causing Teflon seals to bulge, restricting the flow of propellant.
How has NASA reacted to the current situation with the Starliner?
-NASA has been cautious, avoiding major announcements regarding a return date and focusing on troubleshooting and testing to simulate the issues occurring with the Starliner spacecraft.
What is the financial impact of the Starliner program on Boeing?
-The Starliner program is part of Boeing's Defense, Space & Security business unit, which generated 32% of the company's revenue in 2023. However, the program shows no profit with prolonged heavy losses.
What are the potential consequences if Boeing decides to give up on the Starliner project?
-If Boeing decides to give up on the Starliner project, it could face a disastrous failure in its entire development program, and its future in the spacecraft manufacturing niche could be uncertain.
What is NASA's contingency plan if the Starliner is not ready to bring the astronauts back home?
-NASA has not definitively stated their contingency plan, but it is suggested that they may have to turn to alternative means, such as SpaceX, to safely bring the astronauts back home.
What additional testing has been conducted to understand the issues with the Starliner?
-Boeing and NASA have conducted ground tests, firing test engines more than a thousand times to replicate how the thrusters on the spacebound Starliner would have ignited, and to understand why they unexpectedly shut down.
What is the maximum duration that the Starliner can stay in space according to NASA?
-NASA has indicated that the Starliner can stay in space for a maximum of 90 days.
What are the findings from the analysis of the Starliner's service module that has been sitting in White Sands, New Mexico?
-The analysis showed that the helium leaks may be a result of seals that have degraded because of exposure to propellant vapor, suggesting that changing the seal to a material less susceptible to wear could be a solution.
Outlines
🚀 Starliner's Extended Mission and Challenges
The Boeing Starliner has been in space for over 50 days, significantly exceeding its initial planned duration of eight days. This has raised concerns about the spacecraft's future, with Boeing and NASA facing substantial challenges in maintaining the project. Despite numerous troubleshooting efforts and tests, Starliner is still not ready to set a return date for its first manned test flight, which has been repeatedly delayed. The spacecraft's issues are more serious than initially anticipated, and there are speculations that Boeing may consider abandoning the project. NASA's reaction to the situation has been cautious, avoiding acknowledging the main issues, possibly to protect Boeing and the public's confidence in the program. The future of Starliner is uncertain, with financial and technical difficulties, as well as competition from rivals like SpaceX, casting doubt on its long-term viability.
🔬 Investigating Starliner's Technical Issues
Boeing and NASA have been conducting extensive tests to understand the unexpected shutdown of Starliner's thrusters and the associated risks. Ground tests in New Mexico have helped recreate the conditions that led to the thrusters' deterioration during flight, suggesting that heat buildup may have caused Teflon seals to bulge and restrict propellant flow. These findings have led to the abandonment of plans for astronauts to manually fly the spacecraft on its return journey. The ongoing investigation into the helium leaks that affected the initial leg of Starliner's journey has also been a focus, with the possibility of degraded seals due to exposure to propellant vapor identified as a potential cause. The need to understand the stability and management of these leaks is critical for determining a safe return date for the astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Despite the progress in understanding the issues, a definitive return plan for the Starliner and its crew remains uncertain.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Starliner
💡NASA
💡Boeing
💡Spacecraft
💡International Space Station (ISS)
💡Thrust
💡Helium leaks
💡Commercial Crew Program
💡Astronauts
💡SpaceX
💡Test Flight
Highlights
Starliner has spent over 50 days in space, far exceeding the initial plan of about eight days, raising questions about the spacecraft's future.
Boeing and NASA are facing significant challenges in maintaining the Starliner project, with increasing difficulties.
Boeing is considering giving up on the Starliner project due to the prolonged heavy losses and technical problems.
NASA's reaction to the current situation is to continue troubleshooting and testing to simulate the issues occurring with the Starliner.
Starliner's return to Earth has been repeatedly delayed, with the earliest expected return now in August.
The issues with Starliner are more serious than initially anticipated, and the main issues were not mentioned in the press conference.
NASA and Boeing may be trying to cover up deeper problems with the Starliner to protect public confidence and Boeing's reputation.
NASA believes they are well equipped to handle the unusual events and challenges of the Starliner test mission.
If Starliner fails to return astronauts safely, SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft may be the alternative means to bring them home.
Boeing's Starliner shows no profit and the company has to bear the cost themselves as the government can no longer fund them.
Boeing's financial strength lies in its commercial aircraft business, not in the space sector.
Boeing's agreement to sell ULA indicates a lack of focus in their space sector, suggesting the Starliner program may be the next step.
Engineers have made headway in understanding the helium leaks that hampered the first leg of Starliner's journey.
Additional testing of the vehicle in space will include the firing of 27 Starliner thrusters while docked at the ISS.
The helium leaks may be a result of seals degraded by exposure to propellant vapor, with a natural fix being to change the seal material.
NASA and Boeing are working to determine if the leaks on board the Starliner in space have gotten worse.
A review to plan for Starliner's undocking could come as late as next week, according to NASA.
Transcripts
Starliner has spent over 50 days in
space far exceeding the initial plan of
just about eight days that's more than
six times the expected period and this
raises lots of questions about the
future of the spacecraft Boeing and NASA
are likely facing significant challenges
in maintaining the Starliner project
with increasing difficulties is Boeing
considering giving up on this project
and how has NASA reacted to the current
situation let's find out more in today's
episode of alphatech after many weeks of
troubleshooting and test to simulate the
issues occurring with Boeing Starliner
spacecraft the latest press conference
on 25th revealed that the results from
NASA and Boeing are unchanged Starliner
is still not ready to set a return date
for the two astronauts on its first man
test flight we don't have a major
announcement today relative to uh to a
return date said NASA commercial crew
program manager Steve Stitch starliners
return to Earth has been repeatedly
delayed since its initial plan re-entry
about a week after launch it was then
pushed no earlier than June 18th then
June 22nd then June 25th now Late July
now Starliner and its crew aren't
expected back until August at the
earliest this is an outcome that
disappoints almost everyone but it's
clear we anticipated this the issues
with Starliner are not trivial they have
become or perhaps were from the
beginning more serious than ever
honestly I don't want to think this way
but looking at the press conference
about Bow's First Flight it seems
evident that NASA and Boeing never
mentioned the main issues kind of like
they're trying to cover up deeper
problems perhaps officials fear that
openly admitting the current journey is
too risky or would spur more Sensational
as news or maybe NASA's leaders just
want to protect Boeing after all they do
plan to send up more crews on styliner
and any sign of disappointment from the
space agency could erode public
confidence in their already troubled
contractor NASA would do better if they
embrace the uncertainty instead of
avoiding it to borrow a mantra from the
agency itself the first man flight of
Starliner is a test mission unusual
events predictable and NASA believes
that they are well equipped to handle
them but no matter what only time's
going to tell if NASA and Boeing can't
step it up they're going to have to turn
to Alternative means to safely bring the
astronauts back home and no one can do
this but SpaceX if this happens
Starliner will officially face a
disastrous failure in its entire
development program and its future will
be of course there will be no future
Starliner is still too flawed to
continue with man missions to the ISS
however even if Starliner succeeds in
the return its future development is
Frau with difficulties and it still has
the potential to get canceled why is
that well we can see that there are not
many Boeing officials speaking up to
defend their ship space is just a part
of Boeing's defense space and security
business unit and in Boeing's Revenue by
sector in 2023 BDS just generated 32% of
the company's Revenue at nearly 25
billion bucks it's worth noting that $25
billion are also made up of non-space
activities like like contracts for the
military helicopters fighter jets and
Munitions meanwhile the company's
Financial strength lies in its
commercial aircraft business which
brought in nearly 33 billion or 44% of
2023 is revenue when Boeing's commercial
planes encountered a series of troubles
costing the company at least $32 billion
since 2019 and no end in sight it was a
major blow to the over 100y old firm
economically Boeing Starliner shows no
profit with prolonged heavy losses and
the company has to bear the cost
themselves as the government can no
longer fund them this is not to mention
other issues like technical problems
with the spacecraft which are very
difficult for Boeing to solve even down
the road and competition in the launch
market with dominant Rivals like SpaceX
is Dragon these points rais questions
about the future of Boeing Starliner
spacecraft manufacturing Niche overall I
assess that Starliner program does not
have a long-term path even if Boeing has
to abandon Starliner it's not going to
be significantly impacted financially
this is provided that the company
fulfills the six missions assigned under
the commercial crew contract that was
awarded by NASA on the other hand NASA
needs to recognize Boeing no longer
wants St to compete and should therefore
focus on collabing with SpaceX to
further develop the dragon spacecraft
Boeing's also shown a lack of focus in
their space sector as evidenced by their
agreement to sell Ula a joint venture
rocket manufacturing and launch company
is a first step the Starliner program
will be the next step so what do you
think of this speculation please leave
your thoughts in the comments down below
and while you're at it make sure you
like And subscribe to our Channel all
right in addition to the announcement
that there's no return date for the two
astronauts the press conference 25th
from NASA and Boeing's leadership also
gave us some possible answers about the
causes of starliners problems in the
first leg of this journey including
helium leaks and thrusters suddenly
dropping on the way to the ISS these
Revelations came after Boeing and NASA
spent the last few weeks investigating
the real issues and planning for
additional test which will serve as a
highlight to better understand the
problem said Mark nappy Boeing's
commercial crew program director at a
site in New Mexico Engineers fired test
engines more than a thousand times
replicating how the thrusters on the
spacebound Starliner would have ignited
they then fired the Thruster to try out
several ways the engines might fire on
the way home from space according to
Boeing the goal of this testing was to
gain a better understanding of why the
spacecraft's thrusters unexpectedly shut
down and what if any dangers are
associated with turning those thrusters
back on officials said that they were
able to recreate how the thrusters in
space deteriorated during flight with
the ground tests the testing may have
helped give Engineers a better
understanding of the issues root cause
heat building up inside the thrusters
may be causing Teflon seals to bulge
restricting the flow of propellant the
testing has given us additional
confidence to undock and return nappy
said the findings also prompted Boeing
and NASA to abandon plans to allow
astronauts to manually fly the Starliner
spacecraft on the way home as they did
brief briefly on the way up to the ISS
some of the manual maneuvering put some
extra stress on the thrusters Stitch
said still officials did not
definitively say Thursday that Starliner
spacecraft is what carried veteran NASA
astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunni
Williams to the space station and if it'
be the same vehicle that brought him
back home there's a lot of good reasons
to complete this Mission and bring Butch
and Sunni home on Starliner said after
noting that NASA does have contingency
options if Starliner does not get the
approval to bring the astronauts back we
need to get through the process he added
we have another critical styliner
Mission management team to review all
the Thruster data we just talked about
of course I'm very confident we have a
good vehicle to bring the crew back with
nappy said Williams and will Moore
arrived at the International Space
Station June 6th for what was expected
to be a roughly week-long Mission as of
Thursday the astronauts have been in
space for about 50 days NASA has
indicated that starlander can stay in
space for a maximum of 90 days
separately Engineers have made Headway
in understanding helium leaks that
hampered the first leg of Starliner
Journey but Boeing and nasso will take a
close look at the issue again during
additional testing of the vehicle in
space though it will continue this
weekend Stitch said the testing will
include the firing of 27 Starliner
thrusters while the vehicle remains
docked at the ISS analysis of components
on the ground specifically a version of
the Starliner service module that's been
sitting in White Sands New Mexico for 3
years has showed that the helium leaks
may be a result of seals that have got
gotten degraded because of exposure to
propellant Vapor according to nappy the
natural fix is to just change that seal
out to a material that's not so
susceptible to being worn down by
exposure by the propellent nappy said
referring to possible changes that
Boeing can make for future Starliner
missions still ahead however is work to
determine whether the leaks on board the
Starliner that's already in space have
gotten worse as the vehicles remain
docked at the ISS because the service
module that's the portion of the
spacecraft plagued by the helium leaks
on the ground was exposed to propel it
for so long na be said it could offer a
worst case understanding of how badly
the seals can be degraded the ongoing
effort to understand the helium leak is
among the chief reasons why NASA and
boing still aren't able to give us a
return date for Williams and Wilmore or
a definitive answer on whether Starliner
is ready to fly him back home the key
attributes of the flight rationale
really are that we understand the helium
leaks we understand the stability of the
leaks and how we can manage those should
they get bigger Stitch said referring to
the possibility that the leaks of
affecting the Starliner service module
May worson NASA and Boeing plan to carry
out a review to plan for starliners
undocking which could come as late next
week according to stitch we certainly
hope that works out and that's all for
today's episode thanks for watching and
see you next time
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