NASA and Boeing Prepare for Critical Starliner Return Review

Written by Copernical Team Saturday, 24 August 2024 05:12

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Write a comment

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 23, 2024

NASA and Boeing's engineering teams are conducting extensive data analysis as they approach a significant decision regarding the Starliner spacecraft's return from the International Space Station (ISS). This decision, which will determine if Starliner will return to Earth with astronauts on board, is anticipated no earlier than Saturday, Aug. 24. The determination will follow an agency-level rev

NASA and Boeing Prepare for Critical Starliner Return Review
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 23, 2024

NASA and Boeing's engineering teams are conducting extensive data analysis as they approach a significant decision regarding the Starliner spacecraft's return from the International Space Station (ISS). This decision, which will determine if Starliner will return to Earth with astronauts on board, is anticipated no earlier than Saturday, Aug. 24. The determination will follow an agency-level review chaired by Ken Bowersox, the associate administrator of NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate.

This agency flight readiness review serves as the platform where any formal objections are raised and addressed. Key figures in NASA's leadership, including the administrator, deputy administrator, associate administrator, several center directors, the Flight Operations Directorate, and technical authorities, routinely participate in these crucial reviews for crewed missions.

Following the review, NASA will host a televised news conference to announce the decision and outline the next steps. Details about the news conference will be provided once confirmed. Post-agency decision, the program and flight control teams will continue preparing for Starliner's return through training sessions and other necessary actions.

In preparation for the agency-level review, NASA and Boeing are finalizing and presenting flight rationale to various teams within the community and the program control board. Engineering teams are evaluating a new model that simulates the thruster mechanics, aiming for more accurate predictions of the spacecraft's performance during reentry. This model is expected to provide better insights into system redundancy from undocking through service module separation. The ongoing work to complete this modeling, assess spacecraft performance, refine risk assessments, and gather community recommendations will contribute to the agency-level review.

Meanwhile, aboard the ISS, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been aboard Starliner since their arrival on June 6 as part of Expedition 71, continue to support a variety of research, maintenance, and other activities in the microgravity environment.