e-FTW
New electron smell
Exactly why I am puzzled: I don't see how a ground test validates that an abort in the max-Q environment would work.Good point, and one that went unmentioned in that article. Really quite embarrassing for Boeing. I think NASA is cutting them a lot of slack on that test, letting them do it without leaving the ground. But according to the article NASA does not specifically require a true in-flight abort test.
Quote: “While technically just a pad abort test, the certification objective will also validate Starliner’s ability to free itself from the Atlas V at any stage during flight should an abort be needed. However, Boeing will not perform an in-flight abort test as one was not mandated by NASA as part of the Commercial Crew Program.”
How exactly does a pad abort test “validate” that the capability will function properly “at any stage during flight”? That sounds like BS to me. I think NASA just says that because to do a real in-flight abort test is extremely expensive since the entire rocket is thrown away.
By doing the abort test during ascent SpaceX is really going above and beyond NASA’s requirements. I sure how that SpaceX can pull off a successful abort test during Max-Q! That sounds very challenging.
Excellent analysis!
That made me actually LOL.
Also, NASA says they'll do an in-flight one for Orion, so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯