Comments on: Boeing delays first manned Starliner flight again, until March of 2024

By: Edward

Edward — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 21:19:21 +0000

I agree with Jeff Wright, not because I want Boeing to finish something, but because I want a competitor to Dragon. Sierra Space is several years away from a manned Dream Chaser, but we need the competition now, or at least sooner rather than later. ______________ MDN, The article notes that they will perform a drop test on these new parachute links by the end of the year, well in advance of the manned flight. Don't worry that they will fly anyone on untested parachutes.

By: MDN

MDN — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 06:13:22 +0000

I find it quite troubling that Boeing is making a wholesale change to an untested (in operational use) parachute system as part of THE VERY FIRST MANNED FLIGHT. This strikes me as recklessly risky as parachutes are notoriously difficult to get right. Any objective look at the history of this topic will suffice as proof.

If I were the crew scheduled for this flight I would seriously consider offering the seats to the administrator of NASA, the director of human space flight, and the CEO and lead engineer at Boeing. Let them be the test monkeys for such a foolhardy venture.

By: Jeff Wright

Jeff Wright — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 05:21:29 +0000

I don’t want the plug pulled…I want Boeing to finish something for a change.

By: Jerry Greenwood

Jerry Greenwood — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 05:00:19 +0000

It must be terrible to be the guy that has the power to just pull the plug but not have the backbone to do it. I suppose if Boeing walked away they would be on the hook for all the up front money. Maybe they’re waiting for NASA to pull the plug and Boeing can sue them for something.

By: Richard M

Richard M — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 01:34:09 +0000

Eric Berger notes that the first adequate window in the ISS traffic schedule is in April….so, indeed, hard to see how Boeing could do it in March, even if they are ready.