Boeing’s Starliner mission is coming back to Earth — empty. After months of data analysis and internal deliberation, NASA leadership announced today that Starliner will be coming back to Earth in September, without a crew.

  • Subtracty@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    I can not imagine being one of the engineers that has to make big decisions like this. Glad they are being cautious, and I hope those astronauts are enjoying their unexpected space sabatical as much as that is possible.

    • BossDj@lemm.ee
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      3 months ago

      This is the real deal. I’m so, so glad they’re trying to be 100% safe rather than save face or money.

  • BossDj@lemm.ee
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    3 months ago

    We got ourselves a Mark Watney situation here. Time to grow some shit potatoes

    • BearOfaTime@lemm.ee
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      3 months ago

      Private enterprise? That would describe SpaceX far more than the Boeing garbage, which is funded by government, and has been a major part of the MIC since WWII.

    • BrikoX@lemmy.zipOPM
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      3 months ago

      Very uncommon. Original plan was less than 14 days, and now it got extended to 8-12 months. Though astronauts seems to be happy as they get to do some spacewalks while stuck at ISS. But it’s bad news for Boeing. They had a fixed contract of 4.2 billion and had to pay additional 1.5 billion out of pocket and now their reputation is shot.