UPI by Stefano Coledan 6/2/2023
Starliner, the spacecraft Boeing Co designed to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station, will not fly any time soon because of problems related to the parachutes and wiring insulation, the company said.
A crewed flight has been planned for July, but now it's questionable if the space capsule will be launched before the end of the year. NASA still can utilize SpaceX vehicles, but the space agency always has wanted a second company to provide travel, as well.
During final prelaunch reviews conducted last week, engineers found the two unrelated problems that could put the lives of astronauts in grave danger.
As a result, the long-delayed Starliner flight with astronauts aboard, tentatively scheduled for July 21, has been postponed indefinitely, Mark Nappi, the Boeing Starliner program manager, said during a Thursday teleconference.
In the course of last week's final preflight checks and reviews, engineers realized that the lines designed to hold the capsule to its three parachutes must be sturdier, if the astronauts are to land safely, Nappi said.
So-called soft links connected to the lines of Starliner's three parachutes are not as robust as originally understood. In fact, it is unlikely that the soft links could safely carry Starliner's weight in case of a parachute failure.
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https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2023/06/02/6001685729261/
