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Science & Technology
No, Boeing Starliner's NASA astronauts are not stranded in space. Here's why.
2024-08-05
[Space] Some reporters began calling the astronauts "stranded" or "stuck" on the ISS. NASA and Boeing stress, however, that this couldn't be further from the truth.
Shi* outta luck then ?
I prefer the term marooned.
"Our plan is to return them on Starliner and return them home at the right time," Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, told reporters during a tense press teleconference on June 28. (Reporters complained during the briefing that a lack of updates was leading to misinformation online; NASA and Boeing pledged more frequent discussions, but said they had remained relatively quiet mainly because they were busy troubleshooting Starliner's issues.)

Update from VodkaPundit courtesy of DarthVader at 3:00 p.m. ET: Did NASA Just Admit That Boeing's Starliner Is Doomed?
Posted by:Skidmark

#13   but the story is that software wasn't loaded on this capsule.

"Just one more thing to test! Besides, we probably won't need it anyway."
Posted by: SteveS   2024-08-05 20:14  

#12  The prob is that Starliner is parked on the one and only docking port. There's a Aug 18 (IIRC) Dragon launch scheduled to bring up the next crew. No place to park.
The previous iteration of Starliner flew itself on autopilot, but the story is that software wasn't loaded on this capsule. (Probably so a Boeing exec could get a bonus for cost saving, but that's a guess.)
Posted by: ed in texas   2024-08-05 19:30  

#11  There are only so many docking ports on that station.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2024-08-05 18:15  

#10  Well, yeah. After all - Boeing Starliner's two astronauts knew to expect the unexpected when they took off on the spacecraft's first crewed mission on June 5.
Posted by: Bobby   2024-08-05 14:47  

#9  If Boeing can admit the truth and let the poor bastards return to earth on SpaceX there is no problem. Currently it looks like Boeing would prefer to risk their lives in a sick spaceship.
Posted by: 3dc   2024-08-05 12:57  

#8  (gravity)

Yeah, getting back is easy. It's downhill all the way! The trick is getting back in a state where you can continue to enjoy the benefits program.

Worst case, John Galt- sorry, Elon Musk - can give them a lift, but the optics are awful and it won't help Boeing's stock price or NASA's reputation. Not that any of our institutions look like heroes anymore.
Posted by: SteveS   2024-08-05 12:04  

#7  I scanned most of the article, looking for the 'bottom line' and concluded it was ghost-written by K. Harris.
Posted by: Bobby   2024-08-05 10:23  

#6  Don't start the DEI engineers on Gravity or they'll never get home.
Posted by: Silentbrick   2024-08-05 09:43  

#5  ...NASA astronauts are not stranded in space. Here's why.


(gravity)
Posted by: Mercutio   2024-08-05 09:23  

#4  Everything is on hold while the new DEI engineers are trained on the difference between a bolt and a screw.
Just be patient.
Posted by: `AlmostAmonymous5839   2024-08-05 09:18  

#3  Okey dokey. Can Starliner fly on automatic? Let's do that, and they can ride home with Elon's Uber.
Posted by: ed in texas   2024-08-05 08:22  

#2  ...they were busy troubleshooting Starliner's issues.

late, over budget, and not ready for prime time
Posted by: Procopius2k   2024-08-05 06:56  

#1  Waiting for the tow truck.
Posted by: Ululating Platypus   2024-08-05 01:20  

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