As I've repeatedly opined, this should not be a rush job. Crew safety is Job One. Always.
In addition, as I repeatedly said -- this mission ultimately builds to boots on the Moon -- and then around 2035. . . on Mars. I see lots of higher value, deep space automated spacecraft / science missions ahead of this "feel good" -- and largely PR-driven mission set of stepping stones. That's just my take. Here's the latest, from NASA's blog on it:
. . .NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) teams continue working remaining open tasks in preparation for the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station. The teams now are targeting a launch no earlier than 3:09 p.m. EDT Saturday, May 25, for the flight test carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station.
On May 11, the ULA team successfully replaced a pressure regulation valve on the liquid oxygen tank on the Atlas V rocket’s Centaur upper stage. The team also performed re-pressurization and system purges, and tested the new valve, which performed normally.
Starliner teams are working to resolve a small helium leak detected in the spacecraft’s service module traced to a flange on a single reaction control system thruster. Helium is used in spacecraft thruster systems to allow the thrusters to fire and is not combustible or toxic. . . .
Now you know. Onward, smiling. . . on a perfectly sunny Spring Friday -- for a bike ride by the lake.
नमस्ते
