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Two US astronauts stuck in space as Boeing analyzes Starliner problems (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 1 week ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20240626130830/https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/jun/26/boeing-starliner-astronauts

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[-] [email protected] 150 points 1 week ago

Just to be clear on this again, they aren't "stuck" because they're in danger, the stay keeps getting extended so engineers can gather as much information as possible about the leaks before they return. Starliner is still fully capable of reentry, but this is Boeing's last chance to collect data that can be used to fix these issues in the future. The leak problem is in Starliner's service module, which detaches from the capsule before reentry and burns up in the atmosphere, so there won't be anything left to study after the astronauts return.

[-] [email protected] 9 points 1 week ago

I agree the headline isn’t accurate to NASA’s statements, but I also feel everyone is weighing whether there is something we don’t know.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I get that, but because the leak isn't even on the part of Starliner that will go through reentry, whether or not it will impact its ability to survive the return trip shouldn't be in question.

[-] [email protected] 13 points 1 week ago

People keep saying that, but it isn't true that the leak being in the disposable part of the vehicle means it's not a safety problem.

It's the pressurisation system for the thrusters. If that fails, then they won't be able to control the capsule until it hits the atmosphere. That could mean they get stuck on the ISS, in the most extreme case, or it could mean that they lose thrust mid-manouvre and they re-enter the atmosphere incorrectly. That could be anywhere from inconvenient (they miss their landing spot and someone has to come get them), to dangerous (they land so far away that they're in danger of sinking or being eaten by bears before anyone reaches them) to outright fatal (they skip off the atmosphere, or tumble their way into reentry and burn up)

[-] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

This is a good point. It's definitely a possibility something catastrophic could happen like that, but the small scale of the leaks and amount of extra helium on board makes it very unlikely at least.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

Oh, sure. It's not likely to be a serious threat, but not for the reason people keep saying

[-] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

to dangerous (they land so far away that they're in danger of... being eaten by bears before anyone reaches them)

I know Soyuz was designed to land in Kazakhstan or whatever, but is Starliner (or Dragon, for that matter) even capable of landing on solid ground without damage and/or injuries?

[-] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Yes it is actually! When it finally returns, this Starliner will be landing in New Mexico at the White Sands Space Harbor, which is basically a backup space shuttle landing strip.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

White Sands Space Harbor

That is a really cool name

[-] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Neat, thanks! (What about Dragon?)

[-] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

It's not designed to like Starliner, but Dragon can in emergency situations. Starliner has airbags to cushion it on touchdown, but Dragon doesn't so it would probably be a much rougher landing for the astronauts.

[-] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

Don't they have a backup Soyuz docked there as well?

[-] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

No, there's only one Soyuz from the Russian side of things, and its seats are spoken for

[-] [email protected] 43 points 1 week ago

So which one of them is the whistleblower?

[-] [email protected] 10 points 1 week ago

In space, nobody hears you whistle.

Coming soon to a news outlet near you!

[-] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

…or not!

[-] [email protected] 42 points 1 week ago

They are taking "if it's Boeing I'm not going" to a new level

[-] [email protected] 15 points 1 week ago

Better to live in space than die in upper atmo

[-] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

They should have thought of that while they were still on the ground.

[-] [email protected] 25 points 1 week ago

I flew on a 737 max 8 today, so I basically know how these astronauts feel.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

[-] [email protected] 21 points 1 week ago

The most recent delays were due to scheduling not hardware issues, as the article admits despite its headline.

[-] [email protected] 9 points 1 week ago

The MCAS system is now so robust it only wants to go up..

[-] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago

Boeing trying to speedrun Soyuz 11

[-] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

inb4 post get removed because theguardian changes the title of their article again.

[-] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

Boeing says those capsules are just fine, its just a little leak, bro.

[-] [email protected] -1 points 1 week ago

this is too memey to be true

[-] [email protected] -3 points 1 week ago

Couple weird looking folks

this post was submitted on 26 Jun 2024

212 points (90.5% liked)

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