Atlas V N22 : Starliner OFT-2 : Canaveral SLC-41 : 19 May 2022 (22:54 UTC)

[Rondaz]

Boeing Starliner Returned to Vertical Integration Facility for Testing

Linda Herridge Posted on August 5, 2021

NASA and Boeing are continuing to work through steps to determine what caused the unexpected valve position indications on the CST-100 Starliner propulsion system during the countdown for its Aug. 3 launch attempt.

Now that the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with the Starliner spacecraft on top has been returned to its Vertical Integration Facility (VIF) at Space Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, engineers will have direct access to Starliner with the assembly of support structures around the spacecraft’s service module for continued troubleshooting.

Boeing will power up Starliner, allowing the vehicle to receive commands providing the teams with real-time data.

The data will drive any corrective measures that may be necessary to ensure Starliner is ready for launch. When NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and Boeing agree the issue is resolved, a new launch opportunity will be selected, taking into account the readiness of all parties involved and the availability of the International Space Station and its crew to support the spacecraft’s arrival.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/oft-2/2021/08/05/boeing-starliner-returned-to-vertical-integration-facility-for-testing/

[Lars-J]

I hope they can launch soon (and safely).

But... You've got to feel a bit of sympathy for ULA in regards to how Starliner keeps wrecking their launch schedule. I can imagine that the ULA execs wishes they would have charged Boeing a lot more for the scheduling inconvenience it has caused.

[Rondaz]

Inside KSC! for August 8, 2021

[FutureSpaceTourist]

twitter.com/boeingspace/status/1423677126163767298

#Starliner engineering and tech teams continue to test and evaluate the propulsion system - sending commands to engage the valves. This means more data for the team to dive into and an opportunity to continue spacecraft evaluations.

https://twitter.com/boeingspace/status/1423677356099649539

Thank you to @NASA for your technical support throughout this testing, to @ulalaunch for getting us to and from the pad safely and to @AerojetRdyne for supplying and supporting the propulsion system being evaluated.

[lrk]

I hope they can launch soon (and safely).

But... You've got to feel a bit of sympathy for ULA in regards to how Starliner keeps wrecking their launch schedule. I can imagine that the ULA execs wishes they would have charged Boeing a lot more for the scheduling inconvenience it has caused.

Who pays for payload-caused scrubs?  The payload customer?  Or is an allowance for a typical number of scrubs for whatever reason just factored into the price of the launch contract? 

[cpushack]

@AerojetRdyne
 for supplying and supporting the propulsion system being evaluated.

Way to try to blame Aerojet, thats a bit low even for Boeing

[russianhalo117]

@AerojetRdyne
 for supplying and supporting the propulsion system being evaluated.

Way to try to blame Aerojet, thats a bit low even for Boeing

IMO, They're just giving them a jab over LM buying ARH et al.

[Jim]

There was no lightning anywhere near the pad while it was out there.

My source has very coarse resolution. But your source is...?

A source with 84-meter resolution on average

And the closest was a mile away, which is close.

[Jim]

I hope they can launch soon (and safely).

But... You've got to feel a bit of sympathy for ULA in regards to how Starliner keeps wrecking their launch schedule. I can imagine that the ULA execs wishes they would have charged Boeing a lot more for the scheduling inconvenience it has caused.

Who pays for payload-caused scrubs?  The payload customer?  Or is an allowance for a typical number of scrubs for whatever reason just factored into the price of the launch contract?

There are penalties

[rdale]

And the closest was a mile away, which is close.

Half-correct There was nothing within a mile.

A mile away is not close.

[Ken the Bin]

The FAA TFR for Sunday, August 8 has been removed.

Here is the NGA notice canceling the Rocket Launch notice for Sunday, August 8.  I haven't received a cancellation notice for the Space Debris notice yet, but expect that it will arrive soon.

061838Z AUG 21
NAVAREA IV 675/21(GEN).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
CANCEL NAVAREA IV 666/21 AND THIS MSG.
OPERATIONS CANCELLED.

[Ken the Bin]

And here's the Space Debris cancellation:

061908Z AUG 21
HYDROPAC 2259/21(61,75,76).
INDIAN OCEAN.
WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 03, DNC 04, DNC 05.
CANCEL HYDROPAC 2228/21 AND THIS MESSAGE,
OPERATIONS CANCELLED.

[Jim]

And the closest was a mile away, which is close.

Half-correct There was nothing within a mile.

A mile away is not close.

As far as spacecraft are concerned, it is

[rdale]

In the 1960s, yes, but probably not in 2021. Certainly not with any spacecraft being launched in Florida That would rule out any summer launch tries for the most part - and be quite irresponsible to have sent it out to the pad during thunderstorms.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://starlinerupdates.com/starliner-work-in-vertical-integration-facility-to-continue-through-weekend/

Starliner Work in Vertical Integration Facility to Continue Through Weekend
August 6, 2021

This weekend, Boeing engineers will continue testing and evaluating the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft inside the Vertical Integration Facility (VIF) at Space Launch Complex-41.

Yesterday, teams powered up the spacecraft to receive data and send commands to the propulsion system valves that unexpectedly indicated “closed” positions early in the launch countdown on Tuesday. The transmitted commands successfully opened some of the valves, giving the team new data to assess while also beginning physical inspections.

“Cautiously optimistic is a good way to describe how the team is feeling,” said John Vollmer, Starliner vice president and program manager. “They’re coming forward with innovative ideas and prioritizing the safety of the spacecraft and their teammates.”

Boeing aims to perform all activities at the VIF before returning to the launch pad for flight. If necessary, the spacecraft could return to the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center for further troubleshooting and inspections and possibly return to the pad for launch this month.

Boeing is assessing multiple launch opportunities for Starliner in August and will work with NASA and United Launch Alliance to confirm those dates when the team is ready to proceed with the Orbital Flight Test-2 mission.

Updates will be provided by NASA and Boeing as information is available.

Please follow @NASA, @Commercial_Crew and @BoeingSpace on Twitter, or visit www.nasa.gov or www.StarlinerUpdates.com, for more information.

‘successfully opened some of the valves’ so some didn’t open and presumably some fixes needed?

[Jim]

In the 1960s, yes, but probably not in 2021. Certainly not with any spacecraft being launched in Florida That would rule out any summer launch tries for the most part - and be quite irresponsible to have sent it out to the pad during thunderstorms.

Still true for now and more so.  The denser the chips , the more susceptible to EMI.
Lightning is always a discussion for spacecraft ops in Florida.

[rdale]

I understand susceptibility to EMI. I’m saying that lightning over a mile away has a very low chance of causing an EMI issue.

And if they knew for Starliner that it is an issue - then they made a HORRIBLE decision putting it out there with widespread lightning expected. So if you’re speaking in general terms, that’s one thing, but if you’re sure this spacecraft cannot withstand remote lightning but was still send to the pad - that’s a headline.

[meekGee]

You know if these were some exotic readout circuits for a super sensitive one of a kind science detector, I'd say ok maybe.

But these are valves.  Valves exist by the thousands in every refinery out there, also with tall metal structures and long wire runs, and you don't see those go out of commission with every semi-near lightning strike.

I still think there might be something else going on - either enabling and making the system susceptible, or even it is not lightning related at all.

[cpushack]

“They’re coming forward with innovative ideas and prioritizing the safety of the spacecraft and their teammates.”

The time to innovate was when you were building the dang thing, haha but I understand some innovation must be needed to figure out why the thing you built, is broken again.

[Rondaz]

NASA, Boeing Continue to Work Toward Understanding Starliner Service Module Valve Performance Issue

Patricia Bielling Posted on August 6, 2021

NASA continues to work side-by-side with Boeing to understanding the CST-100 Starliner’s service module valve performance, including the unexpected indications some of the valves were in the closed position during its Aug. 3 launch attempt of Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2).

With troubleshooting ongoing in the United Launch Alliance Vertical Integration Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where Starliner will be powered and run through various procedures to help understand the issue, NASA will move forward with the launch and berthing of an important cargo mission to the International Space Station.

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft is scheduled to launch on the company’s Antares rocket at 5:56 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10, from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia, with capture and berthing scheduled two days later at about 6:10 a.m. EDT Thursday, Aug. 12.

In parallel, managers and engineers with NASA and Boeing will continue to evaluate schedules based on where the troubleshooting efforts take them before deciding when the next official launch for the OFT-2 mission will take place.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/oft-2/2021/08/06/nasa-boeing-continue-to-work-toward-understanding-starliner-service-module-valve-performance-issue/