Author Topic: Boeing's CST-100 - Master Updates and Discussion Thread 3  (Read 336827 times)

Offline catdlr

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Re: Boeing's CST-100 - Master Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #500 on: 02/04/2019 02:36 am »
Landing in Texas, huh. Could someone map out where the March Starliner reentry will be visible from? I need to know if and where to look.

I've seen White Sands (New Mexico), Dugway (Utah), Wilcox (Arizona) and Edwards (California) mentioned.

Never heard anything about Texas before.


That Space.com article must be incorrect, the Boeing EIR is for landing at White Sands:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=39244.msg1888711#msg1888711

Another Space.com article indicates White Sands (August 1, 2018)
https://www.space.com/41340-boeing-inflatable-starliner-landing-simulation-photos.html

Quote
landing site in White Sands Missile Range. This is one of five possible landing sites that Boeing is considering for Starliner missions and one of two such sites within the White Sands Missile Range, Barrett said. Other options include the Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, the Willcox Playa in Arizona and Edwards Air Force Base in California.
« Last Edit: 02/04/2019 02:43 am by catdlr »
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Offline jacqmans

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Re: Boeing's CST-100 - Master Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #501 on: 02/04/2019 12:36 pm »
NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, left, and Barry Wilmore participate in International Space Station spacewalk training at Johnson Space Center’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston on Jan. 29, 2019. Fincke is assigned to the first crewed flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Fincke will crew the mission, known as Boeing’s Crew Flight Test (CFT), with fellow commercial crew astronauts Chris Ferguson and Nicole Mann. Wilmore is assigned as a backup crew member for the flight test. CFT will launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Fincke replaced astronaut Eric Boe earlier in January 2019 due to medical reasons.

Photo credit: NASA/James Blair
Jacques :-)

Offline jacqmans

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Re: Boeing's CST-100 - Master Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #502 on: 02/04/2019 12:37 pm »
NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore, left, and Mike Fincke participate in International Space Station spacewalk training at Johnson Space Center’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston on Jan. 29, 2019. Fincke is assigned to the first crewed flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Fincke will crew the mission, known as Boeing’s Crew Flight Test (CFT), with fellow commercial crew astronauts Chris Ferguson and Nicole Mann. Wilmore is assigned as a backup crew member for the flight test. CFT will launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Fincke replaced astronaut Eric Boe earlier in January 2019 due to medical reasons.
« Last Edit: 02/04/2019 12:39 pm by jacqmans »
Jacques :-)

Offline jacqmans

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Re: Boeing's CST-100 - Master Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #503 on: 02/04/2019 12:38 pm »
NASA astronaut Mike Fincke participates in International Space Station spacewalk training at Johnson Space Center’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston on Jan. 29, 2019. Fincke is assigned to the first crewed flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Fincke will crew the mission, known as Boeing’s Crew Flight Test (CFT), with fellow commercial crew astronauts Chris Ferguson and Nicole Mann. CFT will launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Fincke replaced astronaut Eric Boe earlier in January 2019 due to medical reasons.
Jacques :-)

Offline eeergo

https://twitter.com/BoeingSpace/status/1095034844663422977

CST-100 structural testing declared complete by Boeing.

I'm attaching some screengrabs from the video, showing (I) SM/CM separation, (II) flight capsule (DM-1?), (III) heat shield separation, (IV) SM/CM umbilical separation at cryogenic temperatures, (V) nosecone separation in two pieces, and (VI) aeroskirt separation.
« Last Edit: 02/12/2019 10:05 am by eeergo »
-DaviD-

Offline SMS

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Re: Boeing's CST-100 - Master Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #505 on: 02/13/2019 09:20 pm »
NASA Astronaut E. Michael “Mike” Fincke

jsc2019e001293_alt (Feb. 13, 2019) --- NASA Astronaut E. Michael “Mike” Fincke has been assigned to the first flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner. Fincke takes the place of astronaut Eric Boe, originally assigned to the mission in August 2018.
---
SMS ;-).

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Re: Boeing's CST-100 - Master Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #506 on: 02/14/2019 10:18 am »
Mike's reaction on getting the mission. :-)

Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Online ZachS09

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Re: Boeing's CST-100 - Master Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #507 on: 02/15/2019 01:14 am »
Mike's reaction on getting the mission. :-)



At least the Fincke/Boe swap did not take place three days before launch.
Liftoff for St. Jude's! Go Dragon, Go Falcon, Godspeed Inspiration4!

Offline Olaf

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Offline catdlr

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Re: Boeing's CST-100 - Master Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #509 on: 02/22/2019 02:53 am »
CST-100 Starliner Pad Abort Test Animation


Boeing
Published on Feb 21, 2019

In Spring 2019, Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner will conduct a Pad Abort Test at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. It will be a full-up test firing of Starliner’s four launch abort engines, which are designed to get the crew safely away from a potentially catastrophic failure of a rocket.





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Offline jacqmans

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Re: Boeing's CST-100 - Master Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #510 on: 02/22/2019 08:51 am »
Along with the joint team that will launch the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket and Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner in Boeing’s Orbital Flight Test, NASA astronaut Michael Fincke participated in a successful Integrated Crew Exercise on Feb. 12. NASA, ULA, Boeing and Department of Defense personnel executed a mock countdown that practiced fueling the rocket and operating on the unique launch day timeline that features a four-hour built-in hold at the T-minus 4 minute mark. Fincke will fly on Boeing’s Crew Flight Test (CFT), scheduled to launch no earlier than August 2019. OFT and CFT are Boeing’s uncrewed and crewed flight tests of Starliner and part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which will return human spaceflight launches into low-Earth orbit from U.S. soil.

Photo credit: NASA/Frank Michaux
Jacques :-)

Offline docmordrid

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Re: Boeing's CST-100 - Master Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #511 on: 03/11/2019 07:22 am »
So, the pad abort takes place at White Sands and comes down in the desert? No proof of (salt) water-worthiness after sustaining those loads by launching off/near LC-41 and landing in the drink?
« Last Edit: 03/11/2019 07:39 am by docmordrid »
DM

Offline woods170

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Re: Boeing's CST-100 - Master Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #512 on: 03/11/2019 08:43 am »
So, the pad abort takes place at White Sands and comes down in the desert? No proof of (salt) water-worthiness after sustaining those loads by launching off/near LC-41 and landing in the drink?

No need to. Float tests, sea-worthiness tests and crew water egress training have already been performed for Starliner. Additionally the basic capsule structure has been crash-landed into the hydro basin multiple times, as part of testing the Earth Landing system (including the airbags).
The only thing left to do is to examine the crew module structure after the pad abort test. If there is no structural damage to the pressure vessel and associated float chambers than Starliner is good to go for landing in the drink in case of a pad abort- or ascent abort scenario.
« Last Edit: 03/11/2019 11:47 am by woods170 »

Offline docmordrid

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Re: Boeing's CST-100 - Master Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #513 on: 03/11/2019 08:51 am »
I was more concerned with sustained (>momentary) acceleration loads beyond those for launch.
DM

Offline woods170

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Re: Boeing's CST-100 - Master Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #514 on: 03/11/2019 11:51 am »
I was more concerned with sustained (>momentary) acceleration loads beyond those for launch.

Pad abort will give a very good idea with regards to the sustained acceleration loads. You don't need to dunk the capsule in the drink for that.

Offline jacqmans

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Re: Boeing's CST-100 - Master Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #515 on: 03/21/2019 08:27 am »
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-boeing/boeing-delays-by-months-test-flights-for-u-s-human-space-program-sources-idUSKCN1R12QR


SCIENCE NEWS  MARCH 20, 2019
Boeing delays by months test flights for U.S. human space program: sources


SEATTLE (Reuters) - Boeing Co has delayed by at least three months its first uncrewed flight to the International Space Station under NASA’s human spaceflight program, and pushed its crewed flight until November, industry sources said on Wednesday.
« Last Edit: 03/21/2019 08:27 am by jacqmans »
Jacques :-)

Offline jpo234

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Offline PM3

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Re: Boeing's CST-100 - Master Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #517 on: 04/03/2019 01:46 pm »
NASA and Boeing Extend Starliner Crew Flight Test Duration to Space Station, Target New Flight Dates

NASA and Boeing have agreed to extend the duration of the company’s first crewed flight test to the International Space Station after completing an in-depth technical assessment of the CST-100 Starliner systems. NASA found the long-duration flight to be technically feasible and in the best interest of the agency’s needs to ensure continued access and better utilization of the orbiting laboratory.

The extended duration test flight offers NASA the opportunity to complete additional microgravity research, maintenance, and other activities while the company’s Starliner is docked to station. The mission duration will be determined at a later date.

“NASA’s assessment of extending the mission was found to be technically achievable without compromising the safety of the crew,” said Phil McAlister, director of the commercial spaceflight division at NASA Headquarters. “Commercial crew flight tests, along with the additional Soyuz opportunities, help us transition with greater flexibility to our next-generation commercial systems under the Commercial Crew Program.”   

The agency and its industry partner also agreed to adjust the target launch dates for flight tests, which will demonstrate Boeing’s readiness ahead of NASA certification to fly crew regularly to the station.

Boeing is now targeting August for its uncrewed Orbital Flight Test, although this date is a working date and to be confirmed. The decision to adjust that launch date was guided by limited launch opportunities in April and May, as well as a critical U.S. Air Force national security launch – AEHF-5 – atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 in June. The company’s first flight with astronauts on board, called the Crew Flight Test, is now targeted for late 2019, again to be confirmed closer to that timeframe. Boeing also will fly a Pad Abort Test before those two orbital flights to demonstrate the company’s ability to safely carry astronauts away from a launch vehicle emergency, if necessary.

“The uncrewed flight tests provide a wealth of data for us to analyze every phase of flight,” said Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program deputy manager. “They offer a phenomenal opportunity for us to evaluate the end-to-end performance of the systems, and really set us up for flight tests with crew. Our Boeing and NASA teams are making tremendous progress without compromising safety as we prepare for launch.”

While the Starliner spacecraft for the Orbital Flight Test is close to complete, the additional time will allow teams to thoroughly focus on the test and validation activities well ahead of launch.

"We remain diligent, with a safety-first culture,” said John Mulholland, vice president and program manager, Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program. “While we have already made substantial progress this year, this shift gives us the time to continue building a safe, quality spacecraft capable of carrying crews over and over again after a successful uncrewed test, without adding unnecessary schedule pressure.”

Boeing continues to advance toward meeting the agency’s goal of returning human spaceflight launches from American soil to the International Space Station as a part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

Orbital Flight Test Progress

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft for the uncrewed flight test is nearly complete. This spacecraft is designed to be reusable up to 10 times, and will be used for the company’s first full operational mission after certification. The Starliner team is working to complete all of the critical testing and integration on the spacecraft to ensure the shortest possible time between the completion of the uncrewed flight and the first launch of crew, and then to operational missions to station.

On March 11, Boeing mated the upper and lower domes of the same spacecraft inside its Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The two domes underwent outfitting with avionics, cooling systems, wire harnesses, fuel and life support lines, and other critical systems before being mated together. This is one of the last major milestones ahead of final processing and closeouts for flight.

NASA and Boeing teams also completed two parachute tests. In February, a “lawn dart” dropped out of a C-17 aircraft over the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, and the parachutes performed as planned. These reliability tests are part of a special studies program NASA initiated to validate the robust design of Starliner’s parachute systems. Then in March at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, Boeing completed the fourth of five parachute qualification tests. Successful completion of all five tests will qualify the entire Starliner landing system for flight with crew.

Another key milestone for the capsule included successful range of motion testing on the docking adapter – known as the NASA Docking System, or NDS – that will connect Starliner to the space station’s Harmony module later this year.

Pad Abort Test Progress

Boeing also is working on the Starliner spacecraft slated to fly the Pad Abort Test, which will demonstrate the abort engines can push the spacecraft about a mile up and a mile out from the test site. This test will take place at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico ahead of the Orbital Flight Test.

As a precursor to the abort, the company is preparing to restart its Service Module Hot Fire test campaign at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico this spring. New hardware, including launch abort engine valves, have been redesigned and manufactured and are being installed on the test abort engines. The next set of new hardware will soon be installed in the pad abort service module.

Crew Flight Test Progress

Boeing’s Crew Flight Test spacecraft recently completed its Environmental Qualification Test campaign at the company’s Space Environment Test Facilities in El Segundo, California. The Crew Flight Test vehicle underwent rounds of acoustics vibration, thermal vacuum and electromagnetic interference and electromagnetic contamination testing. These tests are designed to simulate the harsh environments of launch, ascent and orbit and also prove that the electronics systems will operate in space and not interfere with other satellites or the station.

NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Mike Fincke and Boeing’s Chris Ferguson are continuing preparations for the Crew Flight Test at Johnson Space Center in Houston. They are training on Starliner’s systems, including nominal and unlikely scenarios, such as water rescue training. They are also well into space station training, and are now focusing on becoming a longer duration crew. Mann and Fincke are training for upcoming spacewalks, and Ferguson is training to support them from inside the station.

Post-Certification Mission Progress

The crew for NASA’s first operational mission on Starliner, Suni Williams and Josh Cassada, are continuing similar training. All five Starliner crew members are making regular trips to Starliner production and test facilities to get to know the people and the vehicles that will take them safely to orbit and back.

SpaceX Demo-2 Update

NASA also is working with SpaceX to return human spaceflight launches to American soil. The company completed an uncrewed flight test, known as Demo-1, to the space station in March. SpaceX now is processing the same Crew Dragon spacececraft for an in-flight abort test. The company then will fly a test flight with a crew, known as Demo-2, to the station.

NASA's Commercial Crew Program and SpaceX are expected to reevaluate its target test dates in the next couple weeks.


Images credited to Boeing
« Last Edit: 04/03/2019 01:48 pm by PM3 »
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Offline Chris Bergin

Blaming Atlas V is not only hilarious, it's just plain wrong.

Our reactions:

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1113439206607589376

https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1113436301519409153

Article in work.
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Offline zack

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Re: Boeing's CST-100 - Master Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #519 on: 04/03/2019 02:23 pm »
I am guessing with all the PR issues Boeing is facing at the moment, them mentioning the issues as reported by L2 would not be in their best interest.

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