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At first glance this news looks disappointing, but after a few minutes I've taken to the glass is still half full. Elon wasn't very clear about the DM-2 safety review timeline. Is he adding a few months to when "Crew Dragon should be physically ready & at the Cape in Feb," or does "but completing all safety reviews will probably take a few more months" start from the day of his 12/29/19 Tweet? I'm locked in, so have to stick with my earlier call, 3/18/20!
One can tell that Bridenstine still knows how to behave like a politician. His statement reads like a bunch of double-talk mixed with a dose of hedging.NASA’s status update on the Boeing flight and potential for crewed flight without another uncrewed test: Update on Boeing’s Orbital Flight Test – Administrator Jim Bridenstine
I read it, and I still cannot figure out what the plan is. Plenty confusing.
- Full investigation will take two months (once it starts)
- At the same time, NASA will spend a number of weeks deciding if they green-light a crewed flight
While Bridenstine's double talk is amusing, I think that as long as the Boeing capsule can be captured by the arm and berthed, it doesn't matter if the docking sequence works or not. Docking failure is very unlikely to endanger people due to all the staging, checks and abort capability.
In form and function NDS resembles the Shuttle/Soyuz APAS-95 mechanism already in use for the docking ports and pressurized mating adapters on the International Space Station. There is no compatibility with the larger common berthing mechanism used on the US segment of the ISS, nor the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle, SpaceX Dragon, and Orbital Sciences' Cygnus spacecraft.
In my opinion this makes clear that Boeing has to repeat their failed mission, and make it a complete success, to meet the terms of their contract with NASA.It can't:
The capsule does not have an attachment point for the robotic arm.
The docking adapter (NDS) on the crew capsule is incompatible with the bethering adapter.
NASA Docking System - Wikipedia
In my opinion this makes clear that Boeing has to repeat their failed mission, and make it a complete success, to meet the terms of their contract with NASA.
If Bridenstine gives Boeing a pass on their mission failure, his bias and lack of objectivity will be clear for everyone to see.
Although I have not read the actual language of Boeing’s contract with NASA, my understanding is that Boeing is required to demonstrate docking/undocking (I can’t point to what I read specifically on that issue). A web search for “boeing cctcap nasa contract docking undocking requirement” does not provide me with a clear answer. I take your point that in theory if NASA is satisfied that the capsule has shown it can safely return crew after orbit is achieved then docking/undocking could conceivably not be required for an uncrewed mission. But looking at it rationally that makes no sense to me. A failed docking attempt might either damage the station or damage the capsule such that the life of the crew could be jeopardized. Wouldn’t the contract terms require a successful uncrewed docking/undocking demonstration before doing it on a crewed mission?
In my opinion this makes clear that Boeing has to repeat their failed mission, and make it a complete success, to meet the terms of their contract with NASA.
If Bridenstine gives Boeing a pass on their mission failure, his bias and lack of objectivity will be clear for everyone to see.
It's been previously noted that Boeing's Starliner assembly facility in Florida is separate from what goes on in Everett, Washington. Although, what the public only hears and sees is 'Boeing' and Bridenstine has to be sensitive to that fact when he and his NASA CCP team determine the next mission for Starliner. I'm sure recent articles like this don't make their decision any easier.In my opinion this makes clear that Boeing has to repeat their failed mission, and make it a complete success, to meet the terms of their contract with NASA.
It's been previously noted that Boeing's Starliner assembly facility in Florida is separate from what goes on in Everett, Washington. Although, what the public only hears and sees is 'Boeing' and Bridenstine has to be sensitive to that fact when he and his NASA CCP team determine the next mission for Starliner. I'm sure recent articles like this don't make their decision any easier.
Boeing Employees Mocked F.A.A. and ‘Clowns’ Who Designed 737 Max
What's not clear is if this documented lack of oversight, deception, and leadership has become a collective part of Boeing's company culture. There may be no connection, but....