The bad news for Boeing keeps on coming. The Starliner spacecraft successfully landed in the New Mexico desert in early September after its first failed flight with a crew. However, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams remain aboard the ISS because the Starliner has been recognized as unsafe for their return.
Boeing’s after-flight behavior raises questions: executives who were scheduled to speak at a press conference after landing didn’t appear. This was despite the fact that the Starliner proved to be better at landing than during the mission launch. NASA commercial flight program head Steve Stich said the capsule made a “bullseye landing” and re-entry was nearly perfect.
“Just confirmed that there will be no Boeing representatives at the post-landing Starliner news conference. It’s seemingly a last minute change because there were five chairs set up at the news conference here at JSC, and they just removed two seats right now,” said journalist Eric Berger, who attended the press conference.
It's seemingly a last minute change because there were five chairs set up at the news conference here at JSC, and they just removed two seats right now.
— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) September 7, 2024
The last appearance of Boeing representatives at a press briefing on Starliner was back on July 25. Boeing commercial crew program manager Mark Nappi has released a statement since then, leaving the question of the project’s future open. He gave high praise to the team’s efforts, but said the company would analyze the data and determine next steps.
Tensions rose after NASA decided to evacuate Wilmore and Williams on the Crew Dragon spacecraft from SpaceX, a Boeing competitor. Starliner ran into problems even before launch, including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions, which only increased the company’s difficulties.
The future of Starliner and other alternative NASA spacecraft remains in doubt. Analysts don’t rule out that Boeing may abandon the project despite the billions already invested. Ron Epstein of Bank of America has suggested that the company may stop participating in manned flight.
The Starliner capsule is now being taken to the Kennedy Space Center for detailed study. However, most of the faulty engines burned up along with the service module on re-entry, making analysis difficult.
Earlier we reported on how the Starliner scared the ISS crew with eerie sounds.
According to NBC News
