9 ms·

More information from Jim Bridenstine's (NASA Administrator) twitter[1]: Update: #Starliner had a Mission Elapsed Time (MET) anomaly causing the spacecraft to

by exrook 7y ago

More information from Jim Bridenstine's (NASA Administrator) twitter[1]: Update: #Starliner had a Mission Elapsed Time (MET) anomaly causing the spacecraft to believe that it was in an orbital insertion burn, when it was not. More information at 9am ET: Because #Starliner believed it was in an orbital insertion burn (or that the burn was complete), the dead bands were reduced and the spacecraft burned more fuel than anticipated to maintain precise control. This precluded @Space_Station rendezvous. We are getting good burns and are elevating the orbit of the spacecraft. There will be a press conference on NASA TV[0] at 9:30am ET (29 minutes from now) Also some speculation from Scott Manley[2][3] that the spacecraft may have fired it's engines 90 degrees from prograde during orbital insertion, based on mission control displays seen during the launch livestream [0] https://www.nasa.gov/live/ https://www.nasa.gov/live/ [1] https://twitter.com/JimBridenstine/status/1208022591027462151 https://twitter.com/JimBridenstine/status/120802259102746215... [2] https://twitter.com/DJSnM https://twitter.com/DJSnM [3] https://twitter.com/DJSnM/status/1208006636746330120 https://twitter.com/DJSnM/status/1208006636746330120

bad_alloc 7y ago
Am I understanding this correctly?: A timer error caused the vehicle to use too much fuel? No error from the ULA rocket?
- sq_ 7y ago
  According to space Twitter, yes, that is correct. Atlas and Centaur both performed nominally. Edit: looks like Tory Bruno (ULA CEO) has confirmed that Atlas and Centaur performed well [0] [0] https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1208035453850587136 https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1208035453850587136
  - Symmetry 7y ago
    ULA remains expensive, slow moving, but very reliable. It seems like they have a healthier engineering culture than Boeing.
    - phonon 7y ago
      ULA is a JV between Lockheed and Boeing though?
      - AWildC182 7y ago
        They have their own separate team, the companies just have stakes in it.
      - fgonzag 7y ago
        Maybe they have have actual Lockeed Engineers managing the JV, instead of Boeing's Financeers.
      - JshWright 7y ago
        Yes, but it's pretty solidly firewalled off from both.
    - AWildC182 7y ago
      I know people over there. They are struggling but there's still a solid contingent that gives a shit. To spite some missteps they seem to be doing ok at getting young blood in and maintaining a productive culture.
- MS90 7y ago
  Wouldn't be the first time a timing error has caused a huge failure. A similar error during Desert Storm cause 28 soldiers to be killed. http://www-users.math.umn.edu/~arnold//disasters/patriot.html http://www-users.math.umn.edu/~arnold//disasters/patriot.htm...
- toraobo 7y ago
  This makes a lot of sense: the Atlas V is exceptionally reliable while the Starliner capsule is on its first flight.

by exrook 7y ago

bad_alloc 7y ago

Am I understanding this correctly?: A timer error caused the vehicle to use too much fuel? No error from the ULA rocket?

sq_ 7y ago
According to space Twitter, yes, that is correct. Atlas and Centaur both performed nominally. Edit: looks like Tory Bruno (ULA CEO) has confirmed that Atlas and Centaur performed well [0] [0] https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1208035453850587136 https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1208035453850587136
- Symmetry 7y ago
  ULA remains expensive, slow moving, but very reliable. It seems like they have a healthier engineering culture than Boeing.
  - phonon 7y ago
    ULA is a JV between Lockheed and Boeing though?
    - AWildC182 7y ago
      They have their own separate team, the companies just have stakes in it.
    - fgonzag 7y ago
      Maybe they have have actual Lockeed Engineers managing the JV, instead of Boeing's Financeers.
    - JshWright 7y ago
      Yes, but it's pretty solidly firewalled off from both.
  - AWildC182 7y ago
    I know people over there. They are struggling but there's still a solid contingent that gives a shit. To spite some missteps they seem to be doing ok at getting young blood in and maintaining a productive culture.
MS90 7y ago
Wouldn't be the first time a timing error has caused a huge failure. A similar error during Desert Storm cause 28 soldiers to be killed. http://www-users.math.umn.edu/~arnold//disasters/patriot.html http://www-users.math.umn.edu/~arnold//disasters/patriot.htm...
toraobo 7y ago
This makes a lot of sense: the Atlas V is exceptionally reliable while the Starliner capsule is on its first flight.