In the wake of two astronauts being stranded on the International Space Station (ISS), a series of intense and contentious meetings took place between NASA and Boeing, as both parties grappled with how to bring the crew back to Earth safely.

 

The discussions, attended by senior-level employees from both organizations, were fraught with tension, often devolving into heated arguments. A NASA executive familiar with the talks described the atmosphere, stating, “Boeing was convinced that the Starliner was in good enough condition to bring the astronauts home, and NASA disagreed. Strongly disagreed.”

 

The astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, had embarked on what was supposed to be an eight-day mission aboard the ISS in June. However, they were left stranded after discovering that helium leaks in Boeing’s Starliner capsule were more extensive than initially thought, leading to malfunctions in the thrusters. The leaks, which had been known prior to launch, became a critical point of concern as they threatened the safety of any potential return flight.

 

Faced with the deteriorating situation, NASA made the difficult decision to override Boeing’s assurances and opted instead to have the astronauts return aboard a spacecraft from Boeing's rival, Elon Musk’s SpaceX. This decision means that Wilmore and Williams will remain on the ISS until February, extending their mission by nearly eight months. A NASA executive highlighted the agency’s reasoning, emphasizing the potential consequences of a misjudgment: “Boeing wasn’t happy, and they made that perfectly clear to us. But what’s the headline if there’s a catastrophic failure? It’s not ‘Boeing killed two astronauts,’ it’s ‘NASA killed two astronauts.’ So no, it’s better safe than sorry.”

 

Boeing’s dissatisfaction with NASA’s decision was also communicated internally. Mark Nappi, head of Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program, sent an email to employees expressing the company’s commitment to support NASA’s choice, despite the setback. “I know this is not the decision we had hoped for, but we stand ready to carry out the actions necessary to support NASA’s decision,” Nappi wrote. He reassured his team, saying, “The focus remains first and foremost on ensuring the safety of the crew and spacecraft.”

 

The situation has been a significant blow to Boeing’s commercial space division, which has been in direct competition with SpaceX for the past decade. The Starliner’s malfunction and the resulting public scrutiny have been demoralizing for the team. One Boeing employee described the situation as "humiliating," particularly given that SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule has successfully completed nine missions, with a tenth now scheduled to rescue the stranded astronauts. The contrast between Boeing’s $4.2 billion contract with NASA, which has yet to deliver a fully successful mission, and SpaceX’s $2.6 billion contract, which has seen multiple successes, has only added to the embarrassment.

 

This latest incident compounds what has already been a difficult year for Boeing, marred by bad press following a series of safety and quality concerns, including a high-profile incident involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet. Despite these setbacks, NASA continues to publicly support Boeing, with NASA spokesman Bowersox emphasizing the collaborative nature of their relationship. “I think the key word is partner,” Bowersox said during a weekend press conference. “A lot of people want to focus on the contractual relationship where we’re buying something from a company. This isn’t completely like that, right? We have a contract with Boeing, but it’s to work together to develop this capability for our country.”

 

As the astronauts await their eventual return, the situation underscores the immense pressure and high stakes involved in space exploration, where every decision can mean the difference between success and catastrophe.

 

Credit: NYP 2024-09-02

 

 

 

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At least NASA learns from their mistakes. When Columbia disintegrated on reentry after the engineers said it was ok, it is clear you have to err on the side of caution.

Be interesting to see what happens when they try to remotely land on the 6th of this month.

If it's not successful I think you can kiss Boeing space travel goodbye

Boeing looking increasingly like a once-great company with an ever-diminishing future ...

"If it's Boeing, I ain't going..."

39 minutes ago, SpaceKadet said:

"If it's Boeing, I ain't going..."

 

Quite the turnaround from the original "If it's not Boeing I'm not going" which originated in the late 70's in the wake of the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history - American Airlines Flight 191, which crashed on May 25, 1979. A total of 273 people died – 271 aboard the plane, two on the ground – at O’Hare Airport in Chicago when a DC-10, the flagship product of what was then Boeing’s biggest and most serious competitor, McDonnell-Douglas, lost an engine as it was attempting to take off.

There were actual bumper stickers carrying the original slogan
 

Edited September 2, 20241 yr by expat_4_life

Boeing has had many problems with their products. Many coverups as well. Faulty equipment and construction being the most outstanding. It would not surprise me if they end up losing all or part of their contracts with NASA. where safety is supposed to be first and foremost of importance. Boeing has as of late, been showing they do not follow that line of thinking and are not practicing it when they make stuff. 

Boing is a good example of how the 'tyranny' of shareholders' returns can go wrong.... 

11 hours ago, Social Media said:

“Boeing was convinced that the Starliner was in good enough condition to bring the astronauts home, and NASA disagreed. Strongly disagreed.”

I think the Boeing board of directors should collectively get on that Starliner to prove its "good enough condition".

2 hours ago, expat_4_life said:

 

Quite the turnaround from the original "If it's not Boeing I'm not going" which originated in the late 70's in the wake of the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history - American Airlines Flight 191, which crashed on May 25, 1979. A total of 273 people died – 271 aboard the plane, two on the ground – at O’Hare Airport in Chicago when a DC-10, the flagship product of what was then Boeing’s biggest and most serious competitor, McDonnell-Douglas, lost an engine as it was attempting to take off.

There were actual bumper stickers carrying the original slogan
 

This is actually where I got it from. Just modified it to reflect the new reality.

10 hours ago, SpaceKadet said:

"If it's Boeing, I ain't going..."

McBoeing:  When the job absolutely has to be done wrong.  

        More bad news for Boeing.  But, on the bright side, I see a potential Gilligan's Island/Lost in Space tv show.  The two that are stranded left for an 8-day 'cruise' to the space station and now have been lost in space for months, hoping for a rescue.  While they wait, fun, laughs and antics for the whole family.  ABC this Fall.  

I wonder why the space suits are different as well, would it not be a benifit to have

all the suits compatable? Just an Idea..