|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Boeing's Starliner Delayed Again - This Time It's the Batteries
From The Register
Boeing's first mission carrying astronauts to the International Space Station aboard its Starliner capsule, scheduled for April, is now delayed until summer due to the risk of overheating batteries. NASA is concerned that the Starliner's lithium-ion batteries could overheat while docked to the ISS. Although executives from the space agency agreed the risks were low, they were hesitant to move forward with Boeing's mission to loft two astronauts, Sunita "Suni" Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore, into orbit. .... Boeing is also planning to revamp a section of its spacecraft containing thrusters used to separate Starliner's main crew module from its service module, before it returns to Earth. NASA has agreed to fork out at least $24.8 million to overhaul the system. Full article at https://www.theregister.com/2023/03...iner_iss_delay/
__________________
Web Site and Blog https://rocketryjournal.wordpress.com YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@AustinAerospace 3D Printing Designs https://www.thingiverse.com/austin_aerospace_education Software https://sourceforge.net/u/austinaerospace/profile |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
GAAAAAHHH!
As an almost 38-year Boeing engineer, but about 6 1/2 years retired (and whose last program was the 737 Max), this just frosts me no end. The 787 battery mess was in part because they contractor for the battery charger didn't understand about balancing lithium batteries when you charge them — something that we model airplane hobbyists knew at the time — and now this?? The box they put around the battery on the 787 negated the weight savings for using them in the first place. But so much of what should have been in-house system design was outsourced on the 787 at exactly the wrong point in the design (my opinion) and now it looks like this is going to have a similar fix (well, assuming "The Register" has it right). As I said: GAAAAAHHHHHK!
__________________
Bernard Cawley NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member SAM 0061 AMA 42160 KG7AIE |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Outsourcing critical components almost always bites you right in the behind.
That 787 battery issue is ABSURD. An engineer not knowing charging characteristics of a battery that is system critical is ridiculous. The word "Starliner" is synonymous with "Delay" in the latest version of Roget's Thesaurus.
__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!! Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't ! Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY. ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC ! |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Sadly, so it would seem.
__________________
Bernard Cawley NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member SAM 0061 AMA 42160 KG7AIE |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
Corporations love reducing up-front dollars that they end up paying umpteen-X on the back end.
Stupid short-term vision. That's one area that Japan crushes us on. Long term strategy/vision.
__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!! Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't ! Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY. ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC ! |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
While the 787 program was (still is to some degree) a poster child for that short-sightedness, obviously the lesson wasn't learned. I often groaned whenever we had to put together "lessons learned" documents after a big project. I suspect the same sorts of things go on inside GM, too....
__________________
Bernard Cawley NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member SAM 0061 AMA 42160 KG7AIE |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
This reminds me that in January, "Elon said" that unless there were problems, then Starship would make its orbital launch in March.
OK, no problems reported by him to indicate delay. So I guess it's gonna fly by Friday? No, I never go by any time frame that he says, unless it's like a week away. And even then I at least double if not quadruple it. I suffered thru the "Falcon Heavy launch in six months" lying for too many years.
__________________
Contest flying, Sport flying, it's all good..... NAR# 18723 NAR.org GeorgesRockets.com Georges'CancerGoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-geo...ay-fight-cancer |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Space storm rising March 20, 2023 https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4551/1 Excerpts: There is a storm coming for the space industry. The workforce is not large enough to support the needs of the current commercial and government landscape. Without quality talent entering the space workforce quickly, the near vertical trajectory of economic growth will drastically miss estimates. In fact, the storm is already here, as most organizations are consistently competing for the same talent, rather than investing in new professional development models capable of creating sustainable talent pipelines. Stuck in an outdated paradigm for learning and professional development, the space industry must grow out from under this to solve this problem. [snip] From large to small, companies are scrambling to fill positions. The following is a sampling of open positions extending throughout the industry as the time we wrote the article: SpaceX: 892 Blue Origin: 3208 Ball Aerospace: 286 Sierra Space: 264 Virgin Orbit: 150 [not any more - W] Axiom: 195 [snip]
__________________
The other day I sat next to a woman who has a profound fear of flying. I wanted to comfort her, so I said, "Don't worry, we're not gonna' crash. Statistically, we got a better chance of being bitten by a shark." Then I showed her the scar on my elbow from a shark attack. I said, "I got this when my plane went down off of Florida." - Dennis Regan |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Update: Apparently they still need to do one last parachute test and review all of the parachute data. From Ars Technica:
The manager of NASA's Commercial Crew program, Steve Stich, said the delay was attributable to the extra time needed to close out the pre-flight review process of Starliner and also due to traffic from other vehicles visiting the space station in June and the first half of July.
__________________
Web Site and Blog https://rocketryjournal.wordpress.com YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@AustinAerospace 3D Printing Designs https://www.thingiverse.com/austin_aerospace_education Software https://sourceforge.net/u/austinaerospace/profile |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
And delayed again: more parachute harness issues, and flammable adhsive on tape used on wirings harnesses (!!!): https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/06/...r-crew-capsule/
As a retired Boeing guy all I can say is *sigh*
__________________
Bernard Cawley NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member SAM 0061 AMA 42160 KG7AIE |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|