Boeing Starliner upcoming launch, first w/crew

[floobydust]

"Starliner Crew Flight Test will launch on a week long mission to the ISS from Space Launch Complex 41 of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on May 6. Liftoff is set for 10:34 p.m. EDT (0234 May 7 GMT), with landing set for a week later in the southwestern U.S."
https://www.space.com/news/live/boeing-starliner-live-updates
"...a $4.2 billion fixed-priced contract with NASA." OUCH for that dinky thing.

Place your bets. I think Boeing has long lost its mojo.

[JustMeHere]

Scrubbed.

O2 valve not working well on 2nd stage. 

[Neilm]

Scrubbed.

O2 valve not working well on 2nd stage.

For those that don't follow spaceflight that closely - that is an issue with the Atlas rocket not the Starliner

[CatalinaWOW]

And for those with short memories think of all the scoffing when SpaceX got a competing contract.  All the industry experts were saying that the huge advantage given by Boeing's history and expertise in spacecraft would result in a better product and earlier, making the SpaceX contract a waste of money.

[temperance]

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/what-is-this-8-knobbed-ibm-human-interface-device-in-a-1980s-boeing-photo/msg5488525/#msg5488525

Rumor has it that the knobs are operated by house DJ's also featured on tomorrorland.

[floobydust]

June 1 launch aborted, countdown halted at 3:50  no scrub meeting results yet
Space.com

[Sal Ammoniac]

If this trend continues, Boeing will have to change the name from Starliner to Scrubliner.

[coppice]

If this trend continues, Boeing will have to change the name from Starliner to Scrubliner.

I prefer Flatliner, even though standing vertically is its greatest success to date.

[tom66]

I wonder how much Starliner will cost per launch compared to Falcon 9 (often part reusable) + Dragon? 

[coppice]

I wonder how much Starliner will cost per launch compared to Falcon 9 (often part reusable) + Dragon?

Cost who? The makers or the customers? NASA have set a considerably higher price per seat for Starliner than for Dragon, for no obviously justifiable reason. However, the actual cost to Boeing and ULA, with their fixed price contracts and long delays seems to be getting astronomical. They don't even have a path to being able to consistently launch, and earn over the long term, as they are not currently preparing to human rate the new VuIcan rocket, and they are running out of engines for the existing Altas 5.

[SiliconWizard]

I wonder how much Starliner will cost per launch compared to Falcon 9 (often part reusable) + Dragon?

Let's wait till it launches at least once before making plans.

[Neilm]

I wonder how much Starliner will cost per launch compared to Falcon 9 (often part reusable) + Dragon?

Let's wait till it launches at least once before making plans.

The starliner capsule on this launch is being reused - it is the one that was on the first orbital launch (the one that didn't reach the ISS).

Also - the scrub was caused by Ground Support Equipment not configuring correctly. Nothing wrong with Starliner or the rocket (this time)

[tszaboo]

So on this one, the windows are designed to stay in?
Good thing it doesn't have wings to fall off.

[coppice]

I wonder how much Starliner will cost per launch compared to Falcon 9 (often part reusable) + Dragon?

Let's wait till it launches at least once before making plans.

The starliner capsule on this launch is being reused - it is the one that was on the first orbital launch (the one that didn't reach the ISS).

Also - the scrub was caused by Ground Support Equipment not configuring correctly. Nothing wrong with Starliner or the rocket (this time)

These rockets do not exist in isolation. The ground support equipment is as much a part of the launch vehicle, and the responsibility of the launch provider, as anything that lifts off the ground.

That said, my understanding is its actually one the triplicated flight computers that misbehaved.

[coppice]

NASA said that if Starliner doesn't launch by 6th June a battery will have expired, and need to be replaced. This is fine. Everything has an expiration date. However, they said its a 10 day job to replace it. Who builds systems where things that expire quickly take 10 days to replace?

[MT]

So on this one, the windows are designed to stay in? Good thing it doesn't have wings to fall off.

They have a 5 pack duct tape with them, just in case.......

[tszaboo]

NASA said that if Starliner doesn't launch by 6th June a battery will have expired, and need to be replaced. This is fine. Everything has an expiration date. However, they said its a 10 day job to replace it. Who builds systems where things that expire quickly take 10 days to replace?

Apparently Boeing. The important parts, like the ESG score is luckily still good.

[Sal Ammoniac]

Also - the scrub was caused by Ground Support Equipment not configuring correctly. Nothing wrong with Starliner or the rocket (this time)

I read a puzzling story about this on a news site this morning. It said that the three computers that conduct the final launch sequence are setup to "boot up" at T-4:00 and the launch was aborted when one of the three had not completed booting by T-3:50.

This doesn't make sense to me. Why wait until T-4:00 to boot these computers? Why not have them up and running well in advance?

I suspect this is just idiosyncratic reporting that I read and the event that actually happens at T-4:00 isn't a "boot up" but a switch over or something like that.

Anyone have more info on this?

[Gyro]

NASA said that if Starliner doesn't launch by 6th June a battery will have expired, and need to be replaced. This is fine. Everything has an expiration date. However, they said its a 10 day job to replace it. Who builds systems where things that expire quickly take 10 days to replace?

It's probably a Durahell one. Half a day to change the battery, 9 1/2 days to clean up the corrosion.

[mikerj]

NASA said that if Starliner doesn't launch by 6th June a battery will have expired, and need to be replaced. This is fine. Everything has an expiration date. However, they said its a 10 day job to replace it. Who builds systems where things that expire quickly take 10 days to replace?

They must have taken advice from Chrysler, start with a battery and build the vehicle around it.

[AlbertL]

And the (latest) problem was...a failed power supply! https://blogs.nasa.gov/boeing-crew-flight-test/2024/06/02/nasa-mission-partners-target-june-5-crew-flight-test-launch/

[SiliconWizard]

That's unfortunate.

[AlbertL]

If they have Prime, they can get another Xylivxxy power supply in time for Wednesday's launch window.

[Neilm]

NASA said that if Starliner doesn't launch by 6th June a battery will have expired, and need to be replaced. This is fine. Everything has an expiration date. However, they said its a 10 day job to replace it. Who builds systems where things that expire quickly take 10 days to replace?

It's probably a Durahell one. Half a day to change the battery, 9 1/2 days to clean up the corrosion.

I believe it is the battery on the flight termination system on the booster. They are only certified to be fitted for a limited time as they are effectively supplying power to the FTS from when they are installed.

[themadhippy]

couldnt they put one of those paper/plastic tabs over the battery connections and pull it off just before  they light the blue torchpaper