posted 04-06-2020 04:44 PM               

Please use this topic to discuss Boeing's CST-100 Starliner second Orbital Flight Test (OFT-2) uncrewed mission to the International Space Station.

posted 04-06-2020 04:45 PM               

Boeing Statement on Starliner's Next Flight

The Boeing Company is honored to be a provider for the Commercial Crew mission. We are committed to the safety of the men and women who design, build and ultimately will fly on the Starliner just as we have on every crewed mission to space.

We have chosen to refly our Orbital Flight Test to demonstrate the quality of the Starliner system. Flying another uncrewed flight will allow us to complete all flight test objectives and evaluate the performance of the second Starliner vehicle at no cost to the taxpayer. We will then proceed to the tremendous responsibility and privilege of flying astronauts to the International Space Station.

posted 04-06-2020 04:47 PM               

[The] flight likely will occur sometime in October or November, meaning the company probably won't fly a mission with astronauts on board this year, according to a person familiar with the plans but not authorized to speak publicly. Repeating the mission and investigating other problems with Starliner is an expensive proposition: Earlier this year, Boeing said it was taking a $410 million charge to offset the cost.

posted 11-06-2020 05:21 PM               

The Boeing Company today named Jinnah Hosein as the company's vice president of Software Engineering, effective immediately. In this newly created role, Hosein will report to Greg Hyslop, Boeing chief engineer and senior vice president of Engineering, Test & Technology, and will focus on further strengthening Boeing's focus on software engineering across the enterprise.

Previously, Hosein held leadership roles at SpaceX, where he led software development for Falcon, Falcon Heavy, Dragon, Crew Dragon and other flight vehicles, and at Tesla, where he helped develop autopilot software. In addition, he served as Google's director of software engineering for cloud networking and was one of the original members of Google's Site Reliability Engineering team.

posted 02-17-2021 05:29 PM               

More from Irene Klotz with Aviation Week (via Twitter):

The power surge happened Feb. 10 in Boeing KSC Hazardous Processing Area where final vehicle checkouts are underway. "Vehicle boxes were exposed to a higher voltage than designed due to a ground support equipment configuration issue," says Boeing.

posted 07-12-2021 01:35 PM               

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to Host Launch Viewing for ULA Atlas V Starliner Orbital Flight Test

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex guests will once again "feel the heat" when the United Launch Alliance Atlas V CST-100 Starliner Orbital Flight Test 2 (OFT-2) soars toward the stratosphere on Friday, July 30 at approximately 2:53 p.m. EDT. Special viewing packages will include the popular Feel the Fun (Atlantis North Lawn) and Feel the Heat (Apollo/Saturn V Center).*

"As we continue to reopen operations, we are excited to bring back some of our most sought-after launch viewing opportunities," said Therrin Protze, chief operating officer, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. "This is an exciting launch as we prepare for Boeing's upcoming crewed launches."

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers some of the closest public viewing of launches with distinctive experiences like live launch commentary from space experts and access to all exhibits and attractions prior to the launch. Viewing opportunities include:

Package: "Feel the Heat"

Location: Banana Creek at Apollo/Saturn V Center, 5.4 miles from Launch Complex 41

Cost: $250 per person

Package includes:

• Two-day admission (second use is valid after launch, within 30 days)
  
• Special badge with lanyard
  
• Exclusive gift and mission lithograph
  
• Catered meal from Moon Rock Cafe
  
• Jumbotron live feed and commentary provided by a Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex space expert
  
• Bus transportation to and from Banana Creek
  
• Digital photo at Apollo/Saturn V Center

Package: "Feel the Fun"

Location: Atlantis North Lawn, 7.1 miles from Launch Complex 41

Cost: $149 per person

Package Includes:

• Two-day admission (second use is valid after launch, within 30 days)
  
• Special badge with lanyard
  
• Exclusive gift and mission lithograph
  
• Catered meal
  
• Jumbotron live feed and commentary provided by a Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex space expert
  
• Live DJ
  
• Interactive activities
  
• Digital photo at viewing location

Package: "Main Visitor Complex"

Location: Atlantis South Lot

Cost: $75

Package includes:

• Two-day admission (second use is valid after launch, within 30 days)
  
• Live launch feed projected on large screen and commentary provided by a Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex space expert
  
• Mission lithograph

As always, the health and safety of employees and guests is the highest priority for Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recommendations, the visitor complex continues to operate at a limited capacity and encourages advance daily admission purchases. The visitor complex continues to accommodate social distancing queues in restaurants, show viewing areas, and other facilities throughout the complex; and implement increased frequency of sanitization and disinfection. Additional details are available here.

Ticket packages are sold for the specific mission and not for a specific date. Packages can be booked via the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex website or by calling 855-737-5235. The limited-availability packages will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

*Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will not have viewing available for daily admission ticket holders and this launch is a blackout date for annual passes. Only guests who have valid launch package tickets will be able to access the visitor complex on the day of the launch.

posted 07-28-2021 07:02 PM               

Wondering when and where you may see the Atlas V Starliner OFT-2 launch? The visibility map shows your best chances to see the rocket along the eastern seaboard of the U.S.!

Launch is scheduled for Friday at 2:53 p.m. EDT (1853 UTC) from Cape Canaveral.

posted 07-29-2021 02:53 PM               

Mission Update: OFT-2 Launch Delay

The launch of the United Launch Alliance (ULA) OFT-2 mission for NASA and Boeing has been delayed due to the situation onboard the International Space Station. The combined NASA, Boeing and ULA teams are working to determine the next launch attempt.

posted 08-03-2021 09:30 AM               

We're confirming today's (Aug. 3) Starliner Orbital Flight Test-2 launch is scrubbed. More details soon.

posted 08-10-2021 05:19 AM               

...the company has revealed that they found issues with 13 valves and, since the problem was first detected on Aug. 3, mission teams have restored functionality to seven of those 13 valves, according to a statement from Boeing. They added that they are working towards an August launch for the vehicle.

posted 08-12-2021 07:13 PM               

• Kathryn Lueders, NASA associate administrator for human exploration and operations
  
• Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program
  
• John Vollmer, vice president and program manager of Boeing's Commercial Crew Program

posted 08-13-2021 11:41 AM               

We've determined Starliner will return to our factory for deeper-level troubleshooting of four propulsion system valves. With NASA, we've decided to stand down for this launch window to make way for other national priority missions.

posted 08-13-2021 11:53 AM               

What a mess it sounds like but hopefully Boeing will fix everything and reschedule the launch when ready.

posted 08-13-2021 12:24 PM               

According to John Vollmer with Boeing, the leading theory for root cause is that oxidizer permeated through some of the seals in the valves, which then combined with atmospheric moisture created nitric acid, resulting in corrosion and stiction.

The oxidizer permeation is a known and understood occurrence. They do not yet understand how moisture was able to enter the system.

On board Starliner there are 24 oxidizer valves, 24 fuel valves and 16 helium valves all of the same design. All 13 that had problems are oxidizer valves.

It is not yet known if this problem will require a redesign of the valves or if it can be addressed by other preventive measures.

quote:

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Originally posted by Ken Havekotte:
And the topic of a lightning storm earlier when at the pad is no longer an issue, as I am told.

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posted 10-08-2021 04:41 PM               

Potential launch windows for OFT-2 continue to be assessed by NASA, Boeing, United Launch Alliance, and the Eastern Range. The team currently is working toward opportunities in early 2022 pending hardware readiness, the rocket manifest, and space station availability.

posted 10-20-2021 08:41 AM               

A substance in Starliner's system that helps initiate a chemical reaction -- known as an oxidizer -- interacted with humidity to corrode at least 13 of 24 valves, said Michelle Parker, Boeing chief engineer for space and launch systems.

"It was a humid time of year, in August," Parker said. "We had looked at the humidity, and we've physically seen some evidence of condensation within the service module."

Tests after the Aug. 3 scrub managed to free nine of those stuck valves using electric pulses or heat, Parker said. But the company still isn't certain of the root cause, and has sent two valves to NASA facilities for further tests.

posted 10-20-2021 10:52 PM               

With NASA wanting to extend the ISS operations as a commercial program, and their request for information regarding American crew transportation to the space station beyond 2024 being released, will Boeing have to meet all six operational flights before the 2024 date? Will they be allowed to carry over their obligation? Or will they be required to repay the money that they demanded upfront for missions that they can’t deliver?

Additionally, what arrangements were made with ULA for the six operational Atlas V launch vehicles? I expect that ULA was counting on some income stream from Boeing after going through the process of human rating the launch vehicle. Now that two crew-rated rockets have been used for a non-crewed launch (OFT-1 and Lucy), ULA must be questioning if they will achieve their side of the arrangement.

posted 10-20-2021 11:47 PM               

Payments are made on a milestone basis, at the completion of each milestone (in this case, the successful completion of a post-certification mission).

From my quick read, the contract does not specify 2024 (or any other year) as a deadline for completion of the contract.

quote:

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Originally posted by SkyMan1958:
...humidity and rain were a known condition at the Cape.

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