Boeing's Starliner???????

[Steve R.]

Astronauts to remain on ISS as NASA delays Boeing Starliner's return to Earth after helium leaks

NASA teams are analyzing Boeing Starliner data after the spacecraft experienced three helium leaks and thruster failures during its docking with the ISS.

www.foxbusiness.com

I have long been critical of the US space program since it apparently had no next generation space shuttle (immediately) ready to go after the first generation space shuttle program was shutdown. That belief may not be justified as I have only superficially followed the industry, which includes Starliner, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic.

My basic assumption with this thread, is that Boeing (as an existing aerospace) should have been one of the first companies to have put into service, by now, a next generation replacement space shuttle of some form. They haven't. In fact, it appears (based on the casual reading of headlines) that they are "failing". In fact, it appears that Boeing's bread and butter aircraft business is also under a lot of quality control issues. After a string of safety issues, Boeing is about to release a plan to fix its quality problems.

My question, why does it appear that Boeing's Starliner is failing when compared to other programs, such as Musk's SpaceX program?

My anecdotal observation is that Boeing, as a very large old bureaucratic company, has simply lost the innovative spark to implement a radically new product. This gets into the theory of how companies evolve. They start off by being innovative and challenging the status quo. As they get older and bigger, that innovation spark dissipates as they become the status quo and more concerned with issues such as market share, patent protections and revenues. (Lawyers and accountants essentially paralyzing the company).

Is that what has happened to Boeing's Starliner program?

 

[jpl458]

Astronauts to remain on ISS as NASA delays Boeing Starliner's return to Earth after helium leaks

NASA teams are analyzing Boeing Starliner data after the spacecraft experienced three helium leaks and thruster failures during its docking with the ISS.

www.foxbusiness.com

I have long been critical of the US space program since it apparently had no next generation space shuttle (immediately) ready to go after the first generation space shuttle program was shutdown. That belief may not be justified as I have only superficially followed the industry, which includes Starliner, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic.

My basic assumption with this thread, is that Boeing (as an existing aerospace) should have been one of the first companies to have put into service, by now, a next generation replacement space shuttle of some form. They haven't. In fact, it appears (based on the casual reading of headlines) that they are "failing". In fact, it appears that Boeing's bread and butter aircraft business is also under a lot of quality control issues. After a string of safety issues, Boeing is about to release a plan to fix its quality problems.

My question, why does it appear that Boeing's Starliner is failing when compared to other programs, such as Musk's SpaceX program?

My anecdotal observation is that Boeing, as a very large old bureaucratic company, has simply lost the innovative spark to implement a radically new product. This gets into the theory of how companies evolve. They start off by being innovative and challenging the status quo. As they get older and bigger, that innovation spark dissipates as they become the status quo and more concerned with issues such as market share, patent protections and revenues. (Lawyers and accountants essentially paralyzing the company).

Is that what has happened to Boeing's Starliner program?

I can't agree more with your last paragraph. During the first years of my career there was a lot of headhunting going on. I started with IBM, and was quickly headhunted out of there. I worked for a number of startups, some were really successful, then most of them changed into real companies, instead of being the missions-based startups that they were. As they grew, there were too many people with their own agendas, that had nothing to do with the original direction of the company. Boeing got fat, and lost it's way. Profiteering.

 

[Isaac]

As they get older and bigger, that innovation spark dissipates as they become the status quo and more concerned with issues such as market share, patent protections and revenues

...and don't forget killing any whistleblowers, as they have >1 recently.

 

[Steve R.]

Should they be smiling?

Boeing Insists Astronauts 'Are Not Stranded' as They're Stuck in Space for over 3 Weeks

A pair of NASA astronauts are still stuck at the International Space station as Boeing insists that they "are not stranded."

www.breitbart.com

The Starliner’s issues have included problems with docking at the ISS, and several leaks of helium, which is used to pressurize fuel for the capsule’s thrusters.

The concern is not with this one launch, but that the Starliner program itself has been plagued with problems over the course of many years leading to delay after delay. After years of trying, Boeing finally launched the Starliner. Unfortunately, it seems that Boeing was not able to resolve its quality control issues before launching. Is the Starliner a safe quality product?

 

[Steve R.]

This began in June. Now it is August. Boeing may be considering waiving the white flag. Musk to the rescue?.

NASA Is 'Evaluating All Options' for Bringing Home Astronauts Stranded in Space

Elon Musk's SpaceX is reportedly working on a plan with NASA to fly astronauts stranded by Boeing's Starliner spacecraft home after eight weeks of the crew being in orbit.

www.breitbart.com

Notably, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams became the first people to launch into orbit inside a Boeing Starliner on June 5. NASA officials initially said the two Starliner crew members could return to Earth as soon as June 14 — just eight days after going into orbit.

Starliner had faced a few problems, such as helium leaks and failing thrusters, but officials downplayed these difficulties, saying they were minor issues.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, while NASA and Boeing examined the technical problems further, finding that “the more pressing concern was the failure of multiple reaction control system thrusters that are essential to steering Starliner during its departure from the space station and setting up a critical engine burn to enter Earth’s atmosphere,” Ars Technica reported.

Therefore, it is now being speculated that the astronauts may not return to Earth inside Starliner, but instead on the Dragon spacecraft.

But if NASA decides to fly the astronauts home on the Dragon, “it may spell the end of the Starliner program,” Ars Technica noted.

Quick quiz: What song has the words (more or less) "Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months..."
Click on blurred image to display answer.

Do You Know the Way to San Jose by Dionne Warwick,
https://duckduckgo.com/?t=lm&q=dian...www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2UpwpTAd8U&ia=videos

 

[Steve R.]

The saga continues. The unfortunate downside of proprietary development. The Starliner was launched on June 5th and they are still up there, moths later. Fortunately there is room at the "inn".

Spacesuits of Boeing-launched astronauts stranded on space station are incompatible with SpaceX craft

The spacesuits worn by Boeing-launched astronauts stranded at the International Space Station are not compatible with the SpaceX vessel that could bring them home.

www.foxnews.com

NASA told Fox News Digital their Boeing spacesuits are made to work with the company’s spacecraft, while SpaceX’s spacesuits are made to work with its own Dragon vessel, which NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams may ride in on their descent back to Earth.

Remember the days when laptop chargers where incompatible with other brands. Dell went to the extreme. Chargers between different Dell models were not even compatible. Using USB as a "universal" charging device has been a real boon. Western Digital (Elements) has been an exception, they have a special propriety notch so that you can't use any old USB connector.