Source: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/boeing-s-starliner-completes-pad-abort-test-for-commercial-crew Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft completed a critical safety milestone on Monday in an end-to-end test of its abort system. The Pad Abort Test took place at Launch Complex 32 at the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The test was designed to verify each of Starliner’s systems will function not only separately, but in concert, to protect astronauts by carrying them safely away from the launch pad in the unlikely event of an emergency prior to liftoff. This was Boeing’s first flight test with Starliner as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program to return human spaceflight launches to the International Space Station from American soil. . . . I don't have engineering data to dispute whether this was a successful test. Just the video showed: Only two of three parachutes deployed - IMHO, this area will get extra effort for the next month. That two deployed and the capsule and cargo survived is good but you want all three parachutes. Hypergolic fuel cloud - the service module separates and crashes but then released a large could of hypergolic 'vapors.' IMHO, it should have burned all of the fuel and oxidizer before crashing as the unburned stuff is pretty wicked. Count down reached 'zero' and a pause - this could have been bad mission control operator but I would really want to see if the 'launch' signal was followed by what the video shows as a delay. Bob Wilson
I read the title as "Boeing Starliner Aborts Test" which made me think they failed a test by having to abort it Might want to adjust the title a bit.
Boeing is sailing through tempestuous seas these days. I remember when people usta say "If it ain't Boeing, I ain't going!" Now???? Let's just say that I wish them well on their tests.
I read an article in May or June, that boeing was calling back it's retired engineers to fix the mess. one of many articles Former Boeing Engineers Say Relentless Cost-Cutting Sacrificed Safety - Bloomberg
I thought that all of their formerly retired engineers were trying to clean up the 737 mess..... If they wind up killing astronauts in that albatross, we'll be renting space on Rooskie birds for the next 20 years......
Spacex lost a Dragon from a fuel and oxidizer leak. They fixed it by using burst disks in addition to the valves. They are also improving the parachutes with stronger risers. The next Dragon test is at max-Q on a Falcon 9. It should be impressive and the booster is not expected to survive. Bob Wilson
