A Boeing Starliner capsule lands at White Sands, New Mexico, in December 2019 after an unsuccessful uncrewed test flight.
WASHINGTON: Nasa has drawn up a list of 80 recommendations that US aerospace giant Boeing will have to address before attempting to refly its Starliner space capsule, following the failure of an uncrewed test last year.
The recommendations primarily concern the on-board software, which was the main problem with the flight test last December.
The capsule could not be placed in the correct orbit, due to a clock error, and a had to return to Earth after two days instead of docking with the International Space Station as planned.
Boeing subsequently learned that other software problems could have caused the capsule and the rocket to collide at the time of separation, a potentially very dangerous event if the flight had been crewed.
Most of the problems identified run deep and are organizational, for example Nasa’s verification procedures. The space agency has been a client of Boeing’s for decades, but seems to have placed too much faith in its historic partner.
“Perhaps we were a little more focused on SpaceX,” said Steve Stich, manager of Nasa’s Commercial Crew Program, in a call with reporters.
SpaceX, a relative newcomer to the space industry, is the other company chosen by Nasa to develop a crewed vessel — but unlike Boeing, its Crew Dragon successfully completed its uncrewed test flight in 2019, then its first crewed flight in May, with two astronauts on board.
Starliner’s next attempt could take place in “the latter part of this year,” added Stich, without making a guarantee. Boeing won’t therefore be able to carry astronauts until at least 2021, while SpaceX’s second crewed flight is set to take place this summer.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.