Boeing Starliner

[ZedLeg]

Boeing have been having a shocker recently so I’m surprised they’re not making a bigger deal of this.

First manned flight to the ISS

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-u ... a-69094213

[jamcg]

Hopefully all doors and blanks remain in place

[Matty]

I may be waaay off base in understanding this, but it still surprises me that we landed on the moon in 1969, yet 45 years later despite the insane technological advances we've seen in every area, we're still in a very similar situation with 'space flight' we were back then....that is, slapping massive rockets to the sides of small pods and crossing our fingers it doesn't explode every time.

[ZedLeg]

It takes an enormous amount of energy to get into space and rockets are pretty efficient as far as propulsion methods go. Also, they’re cheap.

[Mito Man]

I’m a bit confused, is NASA just hedging its bets by giving 3 different firms contracts for moon landings? Or are the 3 working together on different aspects? And does NASA not build spacecraft anymore?

[ZedLeg]

afaik

The blue origin and space x landers are for the moon/planetary landings and the starliner is for shuttling between earth and the iss.

That seems more useful than a planetary lander tbh.

Presumably if we have a cheaper, reusable shuttle that can dock with stations we could theoretically start building bigger ships in orbit. Which side steps the whole getting them off the ground issue.

[dinny_g]

And does NASA not build spacecraft anymore?

They never did

[Mito Man]

afaik

The blue origin and space x landers are for the moon/planetary landings and the starliner is for shuttling between earth and the iss.

That seems more useful than a planetary lander tbh.

Presumably if we have a cheaper, reusable shuttle that can dock with stations we could theoretically start building bigger ships in orbit. Which side steps the whole getting them off the ground issue.

Ah makes sense, just reading about Starliner and it seems like it’s 50-60% more expensive per launch than the Space X though.

[Mito Man]

And does NASA not build spacecraft anymore?

They never did

You can’t do that to me

[dinny_g]

They've always been team efforts co-ordinated by NASA

For example, for the Saturn V, Boeing build the first stage, North American Aviation build the Second Stage and Douglas build the 3rd
For the Shuttle, Alliant Techsystems built the Solid Rocket Boosters, Lockheed Martin built the Tanks and Rockwell build the Orbiter itself

[ZedLeg]

It’s why the “a million parts built by the lowest bidder” line works

[dinny_g]

Any why the Administration in "National Aeronautics and Space Administration" is so apt...

[IanF]

Boeing being Boeing

https://news.sky.com/story/why-two-nasa ... n-13159073

[jamcg]

Astronauts will stay in space for 8 months instead of 8 days, and will be rescued by space x, because Boeing can’t sort their shit out

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy47w9yndpo

[duncs500]

Pretty embarrassing. I'm assuming some heads have or will roll.

[jamcg]

Pretty embarrassing. I'm assuming some heads have or will roll.

Just the whistleblowers

[jamcg]

Apologies for the tabloid source but got sent this

[IanF]

I’ve watched enough space alien movies to know that the first attempt to sort it is always a disaster, therefore I suggest we send Elon Musk up to talk to them!

[Mito Man]

There’s a London bus stuck in the Boeing Starliner. They make that noise sometimes as the doors close.

[jamcg]

It’s back anyway

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx29wzk4r19o.amp