Boeing Capsule Lands Back on Earth After Space Shakedown

By MARCIA DUNN, AP Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Boeing’s crew taxi returned to Earth from the International Space Station on Wednesday, completing a repeat test flight before NASA astronauts climb aboard. It was a quick trip back: The Starliner capsule parachuted into the New Mexico desert just four hours after leaving the orbiting lab, with airbags attached to cushion the landing. Only a mannequin was buckled in.

Based on these early results, NASA astronauts will strap in next for a trip to the space station, perhaps by year's end. The space agency has long wanted two competing U.S. companies ferrying astronauts, for added insurance as it drastically reduced its reliance on Russia for rides to and from the space station.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is already the established leader, launching astronauts since 2020 and even tourists. Its crew capsules splash down off the Florida coast, Boeing’s Starliner returns to the Army’s expansive and desolate White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

Boeing scrapped its first attempt to reach the space station in 2019, after software errors left the capsule in the wrong orbit and nearly doomed it. The company fixed the flaws and tried again last summer, but corroded valves halted the countdown. Following more repairs, Starliner finally lifted off from Cape Canaveral last Thursday and docked to the space station Friday.

You can read the full article here (and different image shot), The Capsule Article @ US News

I was really under the impression that we had gotten much further in this project, I mean Jeff Bezos (Blue Origin) sent Captain Kirk into Space... if that isn't an endorsement that we can boldly send anyone into Space and return them in one piece has already been proven... yes?

I thought it was interesting how the article mentions; ".....for added insurance as it drastically reduced its reliance on Russia for rides to and from the space station."

Johnny

a reply to: JohnnyAnonymous

just four hours after leaving the orbiting lab

Wow! That's quicker than taking the freeway home after work in some cities!

a reply to: JohnnyAnonymous

The Blue Origin capsule is not capable of reaching orbit. It just goes up and down. Think bigger Mercury program. SpaceX and this one can reach orbit because they are sitting on more powerful rockets and better guidence systems.

I want to see Starship get to orbit.

a reply to: beyondknowledge

And yes of course, you are correct .... yeau my bad, I was trying to be funny.


Johnny

And Space X is putting one up every week or less and bringing the boosters back EVERY TIME!!. Not good for morale at it's competitors. Just my personal opinion.

I've had Space x type directors and I've had NASA type directors.

Space x OOPS that didn't work what's the next version.

NASA OOPS that didn't work let's shut everything down for a year and have 10 hours of meetings every day and crucify whoever we can.

I have a NASA type now that isn't smart enough to figure out we are ignoring them and moving forward.

originally posted by: JohnnyAnonymous
a reply to: beyondknowledge

And yes of course, you are correct .... yeau my bad, I was trying to be funny.


Johnny

So Blue Origin is similar to viagra?

Get up for a couple minutes, anything longer we need professionals to look into it.

twitter.com... Cool Twitter link here !

To be fair, when NASA issued year-long moratoriums, it was a crewed Space Shuttle that went oopsy and didn't work...

a reply to: mikell