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Boeing Starliner astronauts might get a ride home from SpaceX — in 2025
(www.theverge.com)
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this post was submitted on 07 Aug 2024
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The industry gossip/theory going around is that there’s a software issue in Starliner that makes it incapable of autonomously returning to Earth. This is probably NASA’s way of telling Boeing to fix it to a satisfactory degree of confidence before a given deadline, or else.
Arguably that alone is enough reason to completely abandon Starliner as an option for the return trip.
It's only an issue in that the logic isn't currently turned on. The capsule can do it just fine. It just wasn't the point of this mission.
NASA update earlier today said Boeing can turn the ability on if needed. Will just need time for update and then testing to make sure it's all good to go.
It takes no fewer than 4 weeks (!!!) to “turn the logic on”. The software that is currently loaded on Starliner cannot autonomously return - they will have to reflash the entire system.
Here is more specific explanation from yesterday at the time stamp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLNeIx7AwVE&t=12m18s
It seems like there is disagreement within NASA whether it is safe for the astronauts to return on Starliner or not.
Boeing engineers did test on the ground to try to replicate the issue that is occuring on the thrusters. They found thqt the issue isndue to a Teflon seals bulging but they don't understand precisely why is the seal buldging and when it occurs.
However they feel confident enough that the problem would not happen on the way back to earth. Some people are NASA are not as confident as they are and would like to know the precise cause of the bulging.
About the software: there is a capability in the software for the capsule to undock autonomously.
However it would means resurrecting parameters that have not been used and updated since 2022, there is some reconfiguration needed and testing to make sure it still does what is needed despite the different hardware and software change that happened since then.
It is really not looking good for Boeing right now and I don't know if the Starliner program will survive this accident.
https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/08/nasa-official-acknowledges-internal-disagreement-on-safety-of-starliner-return/2/