Wait-a-Minute!
Image credit: Barbara David

The on-going, unfolding, wait-a-minute drama of the Boeing Starliner and its “stuck or stranded” crew in space was discussed the other day by NASA during a Starliner test mission briefing.

For me, personally, the media gaggle was a late reminder of a wake-up call.

It harkened back to my covering the space shuttle Challenger (O-ring finger pointing) and Columbia accidents (suspected wing damage via foam) and loss of 14 shuttle astronauts. Also, there was a tinge of Apollo-1’s fiery tragedy of a three-person crew.

But more specific to the Boeing Starliner thruster issues, I recalled Gemini-8 – yes, I’m old, but that too was a heart-stopper of a problem.

 

Retro-fire back to March of 1966.

Gemini 8 abort due to stuck thruster issue.
Image credit: NASA

Gemini 8, with Neil Armstrong and David Scott onboard, carried out the first docking of two spacecraft in orbit. A stuck thruster in their Gemini spacecraft’s Orbital Attitude and Maneuvering System threatened their lives and necessitated an immediate abort of the mission. Planned for three days, Gemini 8’s mission lasted less than 11 hours due to spacecraft thruster woes.

Apples and oranges, oranges and apples – I guess.

Uncertainty band

Meanwhile, back to this week’s Starliner briefing.

Words used like “uncertainty band” and not understanding the “physics” of the hardware come to mind – but plenty of other phrases that conjure up memories of the past.

It prompted me to jell in my mind a few questions. Well, those inquiries were left unanswered as the media briefing closed and I was still in the queue.

Boeing Starliner attached to International Space Station.
Image credit: NASA

But to their credit, NASA specialists did respond to my questions later via email.

Starliner questions

Question 1:

At the end of the day – to what degree do Starliner’s crew – Butch and Sunni — have the “final say” on coming home – shouldn’t they be the final go/no go folks?

Answer: “NASA does not commit to flight without a go from the Flight Operations Directorate from which crew readiness is determined. Crew safety is the agency’s top priority. NASA does not fly without the crew’s concurrence.”

NASA astronauts Suni Williams (left) and Butch Wilmore during pre-launch Boeing Starliner spacecraft simulator workout at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
Image credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz

Question 2:

What I heard today was unnerving in some of the words used, particularly “uncertainty band” and not understanding the “physics” of the hardware. Any additional words to clarify those terms?

Answer: “Often in human spaceflight, engineering teams are working to assess risk for problems in which the root cause is not known or the hardware affected is not recoverable. While much can be done on the ground and in flight to shrink the issue’s band of uncertainty and better understand the physics involved, reasonable individuals can interpret data differently and come to various conclusions. This is a healthy part of any flight rationale development process and it is critical for crew safety.”

Image credit: Land landing of Starliner.
Image credit: Boeing

Question 3:

Lastly, forget the thrusters (for the moment!) – what I wanted to ask is about longevity life-time specs for the heat shield, on-orbit parachutes, gas-generator units for airbag deployment, etc. Has there been an assessment of their operability in the chain of events that must happen to assure safe recovery of the crew and capsule – if that crew scenario is taken?

Answer: “All the components you listed are certified for the standard 210-day crew rotation, however, some systems like the thermal protection system do require on-orbit inspections before being cleared for return.”

Whatever the outcome of upcoming NASA decision-making regarding Starliner, what’s your view?

Also, give a listen to that press briefing at: 800-584-7317

Also (2) Special thanks to NASA spokesperson, Steven Siceloff, for championing my questions and handling my inquiry.

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