Weird Test for Boeing's Starliner Uncovered Likely Cause of Failed Thrusters
inverse.com
inverse.com
But surely they have tested the trusters in a vacuum chamber for the durations they planed to burn them (plus a safety margin).
Would be cool to know if such testing didn't happen. Or if it happened but missed the issue for some reason. Perhaps the problem only happens in the integrated configuration, not when they were testing trusters individually? Or perhaps something with sun illumination?
I hope NASA will wait for a supply mission to bring a Crew Dragon and test Starliner further.
There is no need to risk human life at this point.
IMO, both Boeing and NASA are under quite a lot of pressure to not require further tests from Boeing because there are just enough Atlas Vs (the rocket that Starliner launches on) for Boeing to complete it's contractual obligations.
Any further tests would deplete that stock.
While I do think a certain amount of grace is due to a vehicle like Starliner - all space vehicles are relatively bespoke and have a consistent level of minor problems - its track record is not great. All 3 demonstration flights have had serious issues with the service module. And because Boeing can't examine the actual hardware once the capsule lands, they have a limited ability to determine the true root cause.
Case in point - NASA and Boeing throught they understood the helium leak before launching... and after 4 more leaks popped up realized that they actually didn't.
>Any further tests would deplete that stock.
I hear what you are saying and it likely affects their decision, but lack of hardware in the future should not be a consideration in this decision at all. If there is any concern, safety of the crew should be priority one.
IIRC, Aerojet is the sub on this system. Surely they understand propulsion well and it is unfortunate that Boeing's name is taking the hit.
From what I can tell, Aerojet is hot garbage.
They tried to build a new engine for NASA during Constellation and their incompetence is one of the (many) reasons the program got cancelled.
They tried to build a new engine to compete with Blue Origin over the Vulcan 1st stage contract and lost. To a company which had never built an engine with a preburner before.
I know they've got a lot of heritage, but the only worthwhile engine they currently make (RL-10) is a variant of a decades old design. I'm entirely unsurprised that the service module they're responsible for isn't working well.