Reuters: Boeing's CST-100 Starliner astronaut capsule has not yet reached its intended orbit

[Dennis Donovan]

Last edited Fri Dec 20, 2019, 11:48 AM - Edit history (1)

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Reuters ✔ @Reuters

· 4m
JUST IN: Boeing's CST-100 Starliner astronaut capsule has not yet reached its intended orbit - #Boeing spokeswoman

Reuters ✔ @Reuters

MORE: Boeing's CST-100 Starliner astronaut capsule is not in planned orbit but is in stable position - NASA



8:12 AM - Dec 20, 2019

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Boeing Space ✔ @BoeingSpace

Starliner has an off-nominal insertion, but we have spacecraft control. The guidance and control team is assessing their next maneuver.

7:25 AM - Dec 20, 2019

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NASA Commercial Crew ✔ @Commercial_Crew

Despite launching successfully on the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from SLC-41, Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner is not in its planned orbit.

The spacecraft currently is in a stable configuration while flight controllers are troubleshooting. https://go.nasa.gov/2Q61FnS

7:58 AM - Dec 20, 2019

On edit:

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Jim Bridenstine ✔ @JimBridenstine

More information at 9am ET news conference. Watch live:

http://NASA.gov/live
NASA Live
NASA launches, landings, and events. Watch live broadcasts from NASA Television and NASA's social media channels, and a schedule of upcoming live events including news briefings, launches and...

Jim Bridenstine ✔ @JimBridenstine

Starliner in stable orbit. The burn needed for a rendezvous with the ISS did not happen. Working the issue.

7:42 AM - Dec 20, 2019

ON EDIT:
Per NASA news conf, spacecraft and mission will continue after anomaly.

2nd Edit:
Mission to be cut short - CST-100 to return to Earth early

Though I'm past one hundred thousand miles
I'm feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go

[jberryhill]

1. I'm not flying on that one either, then

[VMA131Marine]

2. Something is going really wrong at Boeing

It’s as if their technical competence has been hollowed out.

[Dennis Donovan]

3. For a company that has been known for their technical excellence over the years

...they sure went south!

[USALiberal]

4. Really???

Want to see a list of failed rocket launches???

[VMA131Marine]

5. This was a failed orbit insertion

when all the thrusters on the spacecraft were working. We’ve been doing this reliably for decades.

[USALiberal]

6. Here you go.....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Satellite_launch_failures

[Dennis Donovan]

7. How many of those have happened in this century?

Yes, rocketry is dangerous stuff, but we've been firing missiles successfully for a long time (save a few anomalies here and there).

[Saboburns]

8. Dozens

Dozens and dozens friend.

NASA Astronaut Nick Hague can tell you all about one of them.

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-statement-on-soyuz-ms-10-launch-abort

“The Soyuz MS-10 spacecraft launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station at 4:40 a.m. EDT Thursday, Oct. 11 (2:40 p.m. in Baikonur) carrying American astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin. Shortly after launch, there was an anomaly with the booster and the launch ascent was aborted, resulting in a ballistic landing of the spacecraft.

“Search and rescue teams were deployed to the landing site. Hague and Ovchinin are out of the capsule and are reported to be in good condition. They will be transported to the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia outside of Moscow.

“NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and the NASA team are monitoring the situation carefully. NASA is working closely with Roscosmos to ensure the safe return of the crew. Safety of the crew is the utmost priority for NASA. A thorough investigation into the cause of the incident will be conducted."


VIDEO:

Getting to orbit is still incredibly difficult, and extremely costly. Don't think otherwise just because of the amount of commercial launches these days. Much, much vital
information was learned this morning. I applaud Boeing SpaceX and NASA for what they are doing to get The United States able to launch American Astronauts back into space.