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It appears to me there's probably a "best of both worlds" compromise: 1. Send the astronauts home on Dragon 2. Certify Starliner for human flight if it can ma

It appears to me there's probably a "best of both worlds" compromise: 1. Send the astronauts home on Dragon 2. Certify Starliner for human flight if it can make it home safely (uncrewed) If the capsule can make it down, it doesn't matter if there were people in it or not, right?

shantara 2y ago
They cannot do it at the moment, as Boeing has removed the software support for flying Starliner uncrewed from this specific craft, even though it has already completed a mission without humans onboard already. And we’ve only learned about it after Starliner was stuck docked to ISS
- CoastalCoder 2y ago
  Is there a mechanism for updating the Starliner software while it's docked at the ISS?
  - martin_a 2y ago
    Put a microSD with the firmware update in the slot for the navigation system card. Then restart the system and hold down the "Play" button while restarting until the screen turns blue. System may reboot several times afterwards, when everything is done, the system will startup as usual.
  - shantara 2y ago
    Presumably, yes. But making such major alterations to the flight software might be considered an unacceptable risk to the ISS.
  - dmvdoug 2y ago
    Yes, and in the story it talks about how that updating is what would cause the longest delays in getting Starliner off ISS if they go that route. So yes, it’s possible.
- blankx32 2y ago
  NASA already clarified this is not correct, only software parameters need to be modified not the software
  - shantara 2y ago
    Interesting, I haven’t seen this news. Would you happen to have a link?
    - dmvdoug 2y ago
      This is in the story: * It will also take time for NASA and Boeing to update parameters in Starliner's flight software to enable an unpiloted undocking and reentry.* It’s apparently a file called the “Mission Data Load” (MDL).
      - shantara 2y ago
        Thank you for pointing this out
Aperocky 2y ago
The point of certification isn't and shouldn't be "happened to be successful once"

shantara 2y ago

They cannot do it at the moment, as Boeing has removed the software support for flying Starliner uncrewed from this specific craft, even though it has already completed a mission without humans onboard already. And we’ve only learned about it after Starliner was stuck docked to ISS

CoastalCoder 2y ago
Is there a mechanism for updating the Starliner software while it's docked at the ISS?
- martin_a 2y ago
  Put a microSD with the firmware update in the slot for the navigation system card. Then restart the system and hold down the "Play" button while restarting until the screen turns blue. System may reboot several times afterwards, when everything is done, the system will startup as usual.
- shantara 2y ago
  Presumably, yes. But making such major alterations to the flight software might be considered an unacceptable risk to the ISS.
- dmvdoug 2y ago
  Yes, and in the story it talks about how that updating is what would cause the longest delays in getting Starliner off ISS if they go that route. So yes, it’s possible.
blankx32 2y ago
NASA already clarified this is not correct, only software parameters need to be modified not the software
- shantara 2y ago
  Interesting, I haven’t seen this news. Would you happen to have a link?
  - dmvdoug 2y ago
    This is in the story: * It will also take time for NASA and Boeing to update parameters in Starliner's flight software to enable an unpiloted undocking and reentry.* It’s apparently a file called the “Mission Data Load” (MDL).
    - shantara 2y ago
      Thank you for pointing this out

Aperocky 2y ago

The point of certification isn't and shouldn't be "happened to be successful once"