Boeing blames incomplete testing for astronaut capsule woes
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ Boeing acknowledged Friday it failed to conduct full and adequate software tests before the botched space debut of its astronaut capsule late last year. A software error left the Starliner capsule in the wrong orbit in December and precluded a docking with the International Space Station. SpaceX, meanwhile, aims to launch its Dragon crew capsule with NASA astronauts this spring. Then, just hours before the capsule's early return to New Mexico, a second software error was detected by ground controllers. The December mission was supposed to be the company's last major hurdle before launching the first Starliner crew โ two NASA astronauts and a Boeing astronaut.
Boeing Starliner simulator offers glimpse into future space transit
The Starliner is Boeingโs answer to putting Americans back in the business of launching U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station. Our forward velocity (is) with this rocker switch on top ... so clicking that forward will increase your forward speed," Nelson said. Boeing hopes do it for half that. That could include a private customer visiting the International Space Station for research. Boeing hopes to launch sometime in the middle of 2018.