Boeing blames incomplete testing for astronaut capsule woes

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Boeing blames incomplete testing for astronaut capsule woes

By MARCIA DUNN
February 27, 2020

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — 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. Another software flaw could have ended up destroying the capsule, if not fixed right before reentry.

A Boeing vice president, John Mulholland, said both mistakes would have been caught if complete, end-to-end testing had been conducted in advance and actual flight equipment used instead of substitutes.

“We know that we need to improve,” he said.

The company is still uncertain when its next test flight might occur and whether astronauts might be aboard. NASA — which will have the final say — will announce the outcome of the ongoing investigation review next Friday. The first flight test had no crew.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/069cc525792dfba5b733a8bf7fa21224

[Me.]

2. Need To Improve?

Really?

[4now]

3. Shocking incompetence

While putting the lives of astronauts on ISS in danger.