Boeing Starliner spacecraft encountered issues with malfunctioning thrusters during its rendezvous with the ISS.
Four of Starliner's five aft-facing thrusters were successfully test fired after docking and are considered good to go for undocking and re-entry. However, the fifth thruster was not.
NASA and Boeing have decided to keep the Starliner at the ISS for an indefinite period of time while they conduct further tests on its thrusters.
NASA and Boeing officials have assured that the astronauts are not in any danger or stranded.
Two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, are currently residing on the International Space Station (ISS).
Two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, are currently residing on the International Space Station (ISS) after the Boeing Starliner spacecraft encountered issues with malfunctioning thrusters during its rendezvvous with the ISS. Despite these complications, both NASA and Boeing officials have assured that the astronauts are not in any danger or stranded.
The Starliner spacecraft, which launched on June 5 after several delays, was initially scheduled to spend eight days at the ISS before returning to Earth. However, due to the thruster malfunctions and helium leaks that occurred during its approach to the ISS, NASA and Boeing have decided to keep the Starliner at the ISS for an indefinite period of time while they conduct further tests on its thrusters.
Four of Starliner's five aft-facing thrusters were successfully test fired after docking and are considered good to go for undocking and re-entry. However, the fifth thruster was not
The return to Earth of Boeing’s Starliner capsule is on indefinite hold pending results of new thruster tests and ongoing analysis of helium leaks that cropped up during the ship’s rendezvous with the International Space Station.
NASA insists that Starliner commander Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and co-pilot Sunita Williams are not ‘stranded’ in space despite their extended stay at the space station as analysis continues.
Despite slightly lower power levels than expected, four of the five aft-facing thrusters on Starliner were successfully test fired after docking and are considered good to go for undocking and re-entry. The fifth thruster was not ‘hot fired’ because it indicated a failure earlier.
Starting next week, a new thruster identical to the ones aboard the Starliner will be test-fired at a government facility at White Sands, New Mexico, exactly like those in orbit were fired during the Starliner’s rendezvous and docking.
Accuracy
]The return to Earth of Boeing's Starliner capsule is on indefinite hold[.
NASA insists that Starliner commander Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and co-pilot Sunita Williams are not ‘stranded’ in space[.
Despite slightly lower power levels than expected, four of the five aft-facing thrusters on Starliner were successfully test fired after docking and are considered good to go for undocking and re-entry[.
Testing could last ‘a couple of weeks’[.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The author does not make any explicit logical fallacies in the article. However, there are some instances of inflammatory rhetoric used by observers and NASA officials to describe the situation as not 'stranded' in space. This is an appeal to emotion and can be considered a form of informal fallacy.
It's pretty painful to read the things that are out there...We've gotten a really good test flight...and it's being viewed rather negatively.
We want to make it very clear that Butch and Suni are not stranded in space.
Boeing Starliner test mission to International Space Station extended indefinitely for thruster testing
NASA plans testing at White Sands Test Facility to replicate thruster usage during flight
Helium valves in service module must be opened to pressurize heliens lines used to power thrusters
Starliner has many times more helium than needed for one-day return journey to Earth, initial mission scheduled for 10 days, now extended between 45 and 90 days
Accuracy
Testing will take about two weeks
Four of the five aft-facing thrusters on Starliner were successfully test fired after docking and are considered good to go for undocking and re-entry.
The ground tests may last 'a couple of weeks'
NASA insists that Wilmore and Williams are not 'stranded' in space
Two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, are spending additional weeks on the International Space Station due to malfunctioning thrusters on the Starliner spacecraft.
The astronauts are not in danger or stranded according to NASA and Boeing officials.
The extension is due to ground tests Boeing and NASA plan to carry out in New Mexico regarding thruster issues
Four of five failed thrusters have been restored but one is not expected to work for the remainder of the mission
Helium leaks were identified during the craft’s journey to the International Space Station
Accuracy
Boeing Starliner spacecraft's mission has been extended from 45 days to potentially 90 days
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position about the Starliner spacecraft's issues and potential extension of its mission. The author does not provide any information about possible causes for the thruster failures or helium leaks other than ground tests being carried out to understand why they occurred. This lack of context and balanced reporting makes it deceptive.
Part of that desired extension is driven by ground tests that Boeing and NASA plan to carry out in New Mexico, seeking to better understand why some of the Starliner’s thrusters unexpectedly failed during the first leg of its journey.
Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, said Friday that the space agency is considering extending the maximum length of Starliner’s mission from 45 days to 90 days.
Fallacies
(95%)
The article contains some instances of appeals to authority and a potential instance of an appeal to ignorance. However, these fallacies do not significantly impact the overall content or argument of the article. The author provides clear and accurate reporting on the current status of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft mission, including delays and ongoing investigations into malfunctions. No explicit dichotomous depictions are present in the text.
]We're just looking at the timeline to execute (the test in New Mexico) and then review the data.[/
]“And that's really the long pole, I would say, determining a landing date.”[
]“We've got a really good test flight that's been accomplished so far, and it's being viewed rather negatively.”
