24/7 Space News
ROCKET SCIENCE
Boeing says troubled Starliner will be ready to fly crew by March
Reuters Events SMR and Advanced Reactor 2025
Boeing says troubled Starliner will be ready to fly crew by March
by AFP Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) Aug 7, 2023

Boeing on Monday said its Starliner spaceship will now be ready to carry out its first crewed flight by March -- though the actual launch date will depend on space calendar constraints.

The troubled program has experienced numerous postponements but was finally meant to send astronauts to the International Space Station on July 21.

During testing, however, Boeing engineers identified new issues relating to a faulty parachute system and wire harness tape used extensively through the capsule that was found to be flammable under some conditions.

"Right now, based on the current plans, we're anticipating that we're going to be ready with the spacecraft in early March," said Mark Nappi, Boeing vice president and program manager of the Starliner program.

He added that the actual launch date would depend on constraints in the space calendar and would be decided together with NASA and the United Launch Alliance that provides the Atlas V rocket for Starliner.

Nappi explained that a component of the parachute system called the "soft links" had been reinforced with Kevlar, and improvements were made to its stitching.

Substantial amounts of the electrical tape have been removed, while in other areas they have been protectively covered, he added.

The company finally succeeded in May 2022 in reaching the ISS for the first time -- without a crew on board.

Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew program manager, defended the delays as being in the interest of safety, and reiterated the space agency's commitment to Boeing in the face of increasing criticism from observers.

"We will go fly this mission when we're ready," said Stich, adding: "It's hugely important for Commercial Crew to bring on a second crew transportation system for the ISS program."

NASA hopes to certify Starliner as a second "taxi" service for its astronauts to the space station -- a role that Elon Musk's SpaceX has provided since succeeding in a test mission of its Dragon capsule in 2020.

The US space agency awarded fixed-price contracts of $4.2 billion to Boeing and $2.6 billion to SpaceX in 2014, shortly after the end of the space shuttle program, during a time when the United States had to rely on Russian Soyuz rockets for rides to the ISS.

Related Links
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
ROCKET SCIENCE
Hypersonics Capability Center: Northrop Grumman's next step beyond Mach 5
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 05, 2023
Northrop Grumman Corporation has unveiled its Hypersonics Capability Center (HCC) in Elkton, Maryland. This innovative facility is primed to deliver cutting-edge propulsion systems that will propel hypersonic missiles at speeds surpassing Mach 5. In response to the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD) increasing need for long-range and swift-response weapons, the HCC is purpose-built as a next-generation production center. This state-of-the-art facility is set to revolutionize the manufacturing proc ... read more

ROCKET SCIENCE
NASA and Axiom Space join forces for fourth private mission in 2024

Russian cosmonauts perform spacewalk to attach debris shields to space station

NASA back in touch with Voyager 2 after 'interstellar shout'

Advanced Space selected for two NASA SBIR Phase I Awards

ROCKET SCIENCE
Impulse Space secures $45M in Series A Funding Round

Boeing says troubled Starliner will be ready to fly crew by March

Hypersonics Capability Center: Northrop Grumman's next step beyond Mach 5

SpaceX launches 22 additional Starlink satellites

ROCKET SCIENCE
Organic molecules in Martian crater help to reconstruct planet's history

InSight study finds Mars is spinning faster

Ingenuity flies again after unscheduled landing

A frosty anniversary weekend for Curiosity: Sols 3909-3911

ROCKET SCIENCE
China to launch "Innovation X Scientific Flight" program, applications open worldwide

Scientists reveal blueprint of China's lunar water-ice probe mission

Shenzhou 15 crew share memorable moments from Tiangong Station mission

China's Space Station Opens Doors to Global Scientific Community

ROCKET SCIENCE
Eutelsat and Thaicom to partner for new software-defined satellite over Asia

Astra Space optimizes workforce to support sustainable long-term business plan

AVS leverages optimum coverage of EUTELSAT 65 West A satellite over Brazil

US storms, natural disasters push up insurance costs: Swiss Re

ROCKET SCIENCE
Deep Space communications to get a laser boost

Solestial's Tech to Power Atomos's OTVs

Recycling parts for life on the Moon

UTokyo unfolds the 'Future Window' dream

ROCKET SCIENCE
Chemical contamination on International Space Station is out of this world

New exoplanet discovery builds better understanding of planet formation

Violent Atmosphere Gives Rare Look at Early Planetary Life

Using cosmic weather to study which worlds could support life

ROCKET SCIENCE
Looking for Light with New Horizons

James Webb Space Telescope sees Jupiter moons in a new light

NASA's Juno Is Getting Ever Closer to Jupiter's Moon Io

SwRI team identifies giant swirling waves at the edge of Jupiter's magnetosphere

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.