Regular readers will recall that Butch and Suni have extended what was to be a five day visit at ISS, now into multiple months -- while ground teams assess the duplicate capsule here at Houston. . . to determine whether the leaks seen on the ride uphill to the ISS would be a mission limiting variable, for a return / de-orbit ride.
Today, at about midday Eastern. . . we should hear how the "hot firing" tests turned out. Do stop back for updates, after:
. . .Engineering teams with NASA and Boeing recently completed ground hot fire testing of a Starliner reaction control system thruster at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. The test series involved firing the engine through similar in-flight conditions the spacecraft experienced during its approach to the space station, as well as various stress-case firings for what is expected during Starliner’s undocking and the deorbit burn that will position the spacecraft for a landing in the southwestern United States. Teams are analyzing the data from these tests, and leadership plans to discuss initial findings during the briefing. . . .
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams arrived at the orbiting laboratory on June 6, after lifting off aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on June 5. Since their arrival, the duo has been integrated with the Expedition 71 crew, performing scientific research and maintenance activities as needed.
As part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, the mission is an end-to-end test of the Starliner system. . . .
Now you know -- and, onward -- to a shrimp and lobster-tailed, solidly Caribbean spiced, grill-out tonight! Grin. . . .
नमस्ते
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