*HTML is ON *UBB Code is ON Smilies Legend
Smilies Legend
Boeing Starliner launches on orbital test, fails to reach space station [i]A Boeing commercial spacecraft designed to fly astronauts launched into orbit for the first time Friday (Dec. 20), but a software timing error left the CST-100 Starliner incapable of reaching the International Space Station as had been the plan for the flight test. Based on preliminary data, flight controllers believe that a clock intended to track mission elapsed time was incorrectly set, which in turn led the Starliner to think it was in the midst of a critical orbital insertion burn when it was not. As a result, the uncrewed spacecraft autonomously fired its thrusters to maintain what it believed was the correct attitude, using up the propellent it would need to rendezvous with the space station. Despite being left in the wrong orbit and now with an end of mission planned for as soon as Sunday, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said the Starliner's Orbital Flight Test (OFT) was not a total loss.[/i]
If you have previously registered, but forgotten your password, click here.
*** Click here to review this topic. ***
Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts
Copyright 1999-2024 collectSPACE. All rights reserved.