Fri, Dec 20, 2019
Failed To Achieve Proper Orbit For Rendezvous With ISS
Boeing's CST-100 Starliner commercial crew vehicle was carried into orbit early Friday morning on a ULA Atlas 5 rocket, but the spacecraft experienced what Boeing called an "off-nominal insertion" and failed to reach the proper orbit for rendezvous with the International Space Station.
Boeing said in a Tweet following the launch that they have control of the spacecraft, and the guidance and control team is working to determine their next steps.
The spacecraft was reported to be in a "stable" orbit with electrical power. “Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner is not in its planned orbit. The spacecraft currently is in a stable configuration while flight controllers are troubleshooting,” NASA said in a brief statement. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine confirmed in a Tweet that "the burn needed for rendezvous with the ISS did not happen. Working the issue."
In a NASA news conference Friday morning, Bridenstine said "a lot of things went right." He explained that the issue appears to have been an error with the mission elapsed timing system. Because the automation timing was off, the spacecraft began to do burns try to maintain precise control, and by the time it was caught, there was not enough fuel left for a burn to achieve the rendezvous orbit.
Bridenstine (pictured) said that if there had been a crew aboard the spacecraft, "they would have been safe, and we very well may have been docking with the ISS."
The Starliner is in an orbit that will allow it to be brought safely back to Earth at White Sands, NM on Sunday, according to officials at the news conference.
(Images from NASA TV)
More News
Also: SkyReach Parts Support, Piper Service Ctr, Airliner Near-Miss, Airshow London The Judge overseeing Icon's convoluted Chapter 11 process has approved $9 million in Chapter 11 >[...]
ILS PRM Approach An instrument landing system (ILS) approach conducted to parallel runways whose extended centerlines are separated by less than 4,300 feet and at least 3,000 feet >[...]
Aero Linx: FlyPups FlyPups transports dogs from desperate situations to fosters, no-kill shelters, and fur-ever homes. We deliver trained dogs to veterans for service and companion>[...]
Also: Skydio Chief, Uncle Sam Sues, Dash 7 magniX, OR UAS Accelerator US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was given a turn around the patch in the 'X-62A Variable In-flight>[...]
Also: NBAA on FAA Reauth, DJI AG Drones, HI Insurance Bill Defeated, SPSA Airtankers The Beechcraft Denali continues moving forward towards certification, having received its FAA T>[...]