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WG3K > ANS 22.05.24 08:44l 50 Lines 2784 Bytes #60 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : $ANS140.5
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Subj: Starliner: A Decade of Challenges
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Sent: 240520/0139Z 4479@WG3K.#SMD.MD.USA.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.24
Boeing is delaying its first flight with humans on its Starliner spacecraft
yet again, the company said on May 14. The launch, which has been delayed
for years and was most recently scheduled for May 18, was pushed back until
Tuesday afternoon, May 21 at the earliest because of a helium leak.
Boeingâ€Ös Starliner spacecraft marks the culmination of a tumultuous journey
fraught with setbacks and challenges. Whatâ€Ös surprising isnâ€Öt merely
Boeingâ€Ös eventual loss in the commercial crew space race to SpaceX but
rather the fact that Boeing managed to reach this point at all.
The story traces back a decade when NASAâ€Ös human spaceflight leaders
convened to select a replacement vehicle for the retired Space Shuttle.
Boeing emerged as the frontrunner, backed by its illustrious history in
spaceflight. However, the eventual decision to award contracts to both
Boeing and SpaceX marked the beginning of Boeingâ€Ös struggle to adapt to the
demands of a fixed-price environment.
*Boeingâ€Ös Starliner spacecraft is lifted to be placed atop an Atlas V
rocket for its first crewed launch. [Credit: NASA/Cory Huston]*
Unlike SpaceX, which was already immersed in multiple space projects,
Boeing found itself grappling with a new paradigm. Accustomed to cost-plus
contracts, where expenses could be billed to the government, Boeing now
faced the challenge of delivering a spacecraft within strict budget
constraints. This shift exposed deep cultural and structural inefficiencies
within the company.
Boeingâ€Ös difficulties were compounded by technical hurdles, particularly in
software development and propulsion. Fragmented software teams and strained
relationships with suppliers like Aerojet Rocketdyne hindered progress. The
consequences of these challenges became evident during Starlinerâ€Ös
ill-fated uncrewed test flight in 2019, marred by critical software errors
and propulsion anomalies.
*Boeingâ€Ös CST-100 Starliner ahead of the Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2)
mission in 2022 [Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky]*
While Boeing struggled, SpaceX surged ahead, buoyed by its vertically
integrated approach and a culture of innovation. SpaceXâ€Ös success
underscored the shortcomings of Boeingâ€Ös traditional aerospace model,
further exacerbated by broader crises within Boeingâ€Ös aviation division,
notably the 737 MAX disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Boeingâ€Ös tumultuous journey with Starliner offers valuable lessons about
the perils of resisting change and the imperative of embracing innovation
in the rapidly evolving space industry. Despite its setbacks, Boeingâ€Ös
perseverance underscores the dedication of the engineers and technicians
who tirelessly worked to bring Starliner to fruition.
[ANS thanks Eric Berger, Ars Technica, for the above information]
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