Boeing Starliner

[MartG]

Boeing and NASA have updated their contract, allowing for a potential 3rd crewmember on its test flight(s) and a possible ISS stay extending beyond the planned 2 weeks

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-boeing-may-evolv...

[RobDickinson]

So it's no longer a test flight...

[MartG]

NASA astronauts Bob Behnken, Eric Boe and Doug Hurley conduct a fully-suited exercise in Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner mockup trainer during early May at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Credits: NASA & Boeing

[Beati Dogu]

What with SpaceX and ULA, manned US space flight is finally coming together again.

BTW, the Russians are charging $81 million a seat to the ISS now.

[MartG]

Beati Dogu said:

BTW, the Russians are charging $81 million a seat to the ISS now.

More than a reused F9 launch !

[Beati Dogu]

Exactly. Plus a Dragon 2 capsule can carry up to 7 people at a time.

It's the cheaper access to space that opens up whole new possibilities.

[RobDickinson]

Russia are milking it because of the short t term contracts as they expected the USA providers to be up and running now.

[Beati Dogu]

IIRC it was about $20 million a seat when the Shuttle was still in business.

Can't really blame the Russians when they're the only show in town.

[MartG]

Tweet about landing operations tests

https://twitter.com/astro_kimbrough/status/1005151...

[MartG]

The Dual Engine Centaur for the first flight of the The Boeing Company CST-100 Starliner is in the final stage of production and checkout and will be shipping to the Cape soon!

For Starliner missions, we will fly two RL10A-4-2 engines on the #AtlasV’s Centaur upper stage.

- Boeing

[Beati Dogu]

Other than being able to take more payload into orbit, ULA have to use dual motors for manned flight. The extra thrust allows them to take the capsule on a flatter trajectory, so in the event of an abort the capsule would have a survivable reentry angle.

If it was on a typical single engine Centaur and it went wrong, the capsule would fall back almost vertically, not have time to slow down enough and would disintegrate.

They've flown dual engine Centaurs before, but not for some time - 2004.

[MartG]

Looks like there may be a delay

https://spacenews.com/boeings-starliner-launch-abo...

[Beati Dogu]

Everyday Astronaut, Tim Dodd, takes a look at the Boeing Starliner:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cyhUr404X4

[MartG]

Couple of pics of the Atlas being prepared for Starliner's test flight

[Eric Mc]

Starliner crews will be the first humans to ride an Atlas since Gordon Cooper.

[Kccv23highliftcam]

Eric Mc said:

Starliner crews will be the first humans to ride an Atlas since Gordon Cooper.

Progress huh.

[MartG]

ULA press release

We are one step closer to the launch of Atlas V Starliner! The OVI stack is complete! The Centaur has been hoisted upright and attached to the interstage adapter that supports the stage atop the Atlas V rocket’s first stage during the initial minutes of launch. The Launch Vehicle Adapter (LVA) that allows the Starliner to sit above the Centaur was mated to the upper stage. This three-piece combined element is called the OVI stack, or Off-site Vertical Integration, for the Atlas V rocket. Read more about the OVI stack on our blog at http://bit.ly/AVStarlinerUpdates

[Eric Mc]

Kccv23highliftcam said:

Eric Mc said:

Starliner crews will be the first humans to ride an Atlas since Gordon Cooper.

Progress huh.

There are quite a few differences between a 1963 vintage Atlas and the versions used today.

[thetrickcyclist]

Eric Mc said:

Kccv23highliftcam said:

Eric Mc said:

Starliner crews will be the first humans to ride an Atlas since Gordon Cooper.

Progress huh.

There are quite a few differences between a 1963 vintage Atlas and the versions used today.

How many times do you use them though?

Reusability is the precursor for the Surge into Space.

[Eric Mc]

thetrickcyclist said:

Eric Mc said:

Kccv23highliftcam said:

Eric Mc said:

Starliner crews will be the first humans to ride an Atlas since Gordon Cooper.

Progress huh.

There are quite a few differences between a 1963 vintage Atlas and the versions used today.

How many times do you use them though?

Reusability is the precursor for the Surge into Space.

Almost definitely. But the older techniques will still be in use for quite a while yet. Piston engined airliners continued to be used for thirsty years after jets were introduced.