Boeing Starliner Capsule "Trapped in Space"?

[Ross365]

The capsule was launched with two astronauts on board on June 5th and meant to return on the 13th June. That was scrubbed as was one one later scheduled return and they have now put the date back in to July. The problem is that a number of leaks have occurred in the helium gas system which is used to push propellants out of their tanks and to a number of small rocket thrusters which control the movement of the capsule. For a safe re-entry, the capsule will need to to be very accurately positioned and orientated, so thrusters falling off-line could be catastrophic.

Apparently, there is already consideration of using one of Elon's SpaceX capsules to bring the crew back. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6pp29gdwe6o
Tough times at Boeing

 

[Screwdriver]

There is a very high probability they will have to use SpaceX. They knew about the leaks way before this (delayed) launch. Part of the delay was due to leaky valves.

Company's like this used to be run by highly skilled, engineering trained professionals, now it's just bean counters and corporates.

TBH, I was surprised they even had a successful launch. I am not expecting a successful landing.

Elon has a habit of getting exactly the right people for the job. Neurodivergent people like him can be hard to like but he most certainly knows how to get things done right and to hell with the profit margins. Ironically, that sort of "hang the expense" is exactly why his innumerable company's are so successful and profitable.

Difficult for Boeing upper management to care about the products they're serving up when they're giving themselves £$38million dollar bonuses. Somebody has to pay for that and such ludicrous bonuses are typically earned by "brilliantly" cutting costs.

Incidentally, all of these global elite corporations are rewarded more for hitting their diversity, equity and inclusivity targets than they are for the quality of their product.

 

[8ob]

Difficult for Boeing upper management to care about the products they're serving up when they're giving themselves £$38million dollar bonuses. Somebody has to pay for that and such ludicrous bonuses are typically earned by "brilliantly" cutting costs.

Incidentally, all of these global elite corporations are rewarded more for hitting their diversity, equity and inclusivity targets than they are for the quality of their product.

I don't think its fair to witch hunt like this, most of these guys are paid for what they are worth or they wouldn't be there. They may not be in touch with what goes on in Boeing's workshops but you can be certain that what they do bring to the table keeps them busy. A friend of mine employed a guy that was on twice his own salary which I thought insane at the time. I spent the day with him going from one site to another looking at various tasks, there wasn't a place we went to or a person we met that he wasn't on first name terms with and greeted as a "fiend", all made sense after that.

Bob

 

[Popcorn]

So basically they forgot to tighten something up again........

 

[Nomad]

This is dated a couple of days ago

https://twitter.com/x/status/1805326296026615907

I've given up trying to work out what is legit and what is fake but it looks genuine ...
Edit : A new comment has been added saying it was a protective cover that would be removed before launch - it makes the thing flying off a lot less disturbing but still ..

 

[minimutly]

Someone labels me a fiend I'd punch them on the nose...

 

[8ob]

Someone labels me a fiend I'd punch them on the nose...

Cant edit that now

Bob

 

[arther dailey]

There is a very high probability they will have to use SpaceX. They knew about the leaks way before this (delayed) launch. Part of the delay was due to leaky valves.

Company's like this used to be run by highly skilled, engineering trained professionals, now it's just bean counters and corporates.

TBH, I was surprised they even had a successful launch. I am not expecting a successful landing.

Elon has a habit of getting exactly the right people for the job. Neurodivergent people like him can be hard to like but he most certainly knows how to get things done right and to hell with the profit margins. Ironically, that sort of "hang the expense" is exactly why his innumerable company's are so successful and profitable.

Difficult for Boeing upper management to care about the products they're serving up when they're giving themselves £$38million dollar bonuses. Somebody has to pay for that and such ludicrous bonuses are typically earned by "brilliantly" cutting costs.

Incidentally, all of these global elite corporations are rewarded more for hitting their diversity, equity and inclusivity targets than they are for the quality of their product.

hit the nail on the head there

 

[arther dailey]

Someone labels me a fiend I'd punch them on the nose...

dont worry , no one on here is going too

 

[Screwdriver]

I don't think its fair to witch hunt like this, most of these guys are paid for what they are worth or they wouldn't be there.

I couldn't disagree more. Most of these guys are not worth anything like the salary+bonus they are able to give themselves. Half the time company's are run into the ground while corporate elites run away with the money.

Ronaldinho may be worth that sort of money because he is individually and personally responsible for creating gigantic revenues for whichever team could afford him. You couldn't replace him with just anyone.

These corporate types are two a penny. Anyone with the requisite accounting/legal/operational skills could do their job but it's a closed shop. A job for the boys. Not what you know it's who you know. Makes me sick because ultimately, we all pay for it.

 

[Ross365]

While Starliner has electronic systems and uses new materials that are years ahead of what Apollo had, the one technology that has hardly changed since the early 1960's are the types of rocket thrusters used for manoeuvring. There used be about 3 or 4 specialist companies in the US that made these things, as used on initially on Gemini, then Apollo then the Space Shuttle, and also on many types of satellites and space probes, ditto the valves used on the helium system. For a long time, European space companies also used these component, buying them almost as a "kit of parts" all of which were very much "flight proven". The big prime contractors have always gone to the small, specialist suppliers for this stuff. SpaceX are not having these problems, and nor are the various commercial satellite constructors, so what has Boeing done to get so messed up?

After the loss of Challenger and Columbia, both of which were lost due to bad management decisions rather than failed technology, who at NASA is going to approve the use of that capsule for the crew return flight? Well, I don't rule out the possibility that somebody will!

 

[gaz1]

it dosnt matter if its on earth in space or living on other planets

greed and its mine attitude will be there

when we finally do get into space the next battle will be air and water as that will be a high value then we are back to wars again as corporate greed will ensue

wars are wars theres always greedy corps wanting to make a profit on it

the one thing that total recall well and truly pointed out was corporate greed and failure to protect

 

[optima21]

So basically they forgot to tighten something up again........

you mean the bean counters need to tighten up their belts more

 

[frank horton]

cant say I've ever worked for a company where the top brass new anything about the products....last job each item was £4.5 squids.....
they got the job by marriage.....xosser's every one......

 

[frank horton]

forgot to add........more space junk.........

 

[8ob]

Most of these guys are not worth anything like the salary+bonus they are able to give themselves.
These corporate types are two a penny. Anyone with the requisite accounting/legal/operational skills could do their job but it's a closed shop. A job for the boys.

I don't think for one minute you believe this, these headhunted guys are way above your "requisite accounting/legal/operational skills ".They are where they are for what and who they know, may be connected to finance streams, contracts, contacts or inside knowledge from another outfit, who would ever know? One things for sure, the directors value them and for good reason.You cant generalise by citing the wrong doings of a few that have brought a company to its knees when there are millions of them out there doing very well.

Bob

 

[roofman]

I couldn't disagree more. Most of these guys are not worth anything like the salary+bonus they are able to give themselves. Half the time company's are run into the ground while corporate elites run away with the money.

Ronaldinho may be worth that sort of money because he is individually and personally responsible for creating gigantic revenues for whichever team could afford him. You couldn't replace him with just anyone.

These corporate types are two a penny. Anyone with the requisite accounting/legal/operational skills could do their job but it's a closed shop. A job for the boys. Not what you know it's who you know. Makes me sick because ultimately, we all pay for it.

Gives me a chuckle when a man condemns a top executive from one of the globes biggest company's who earns millions, then goes back to his 4ft wooden posts set in a bag of concrete and writes a 10 page essay on a forum . Now don't get me wrong here as i graft everyday myself and would never look down my nose at anyone doing anything but do you get just 10% of the irony of your beef with these big earners . Oh and btw the posts you concreted in would of lasted 10 times longer if they were put inside plastic bags going in the ground and tied 6" up the posts.

 

[addjunkie]

Gives me a chuckle when a man condemns a top executive from one of the globes biggest company's who earns millions, then goes back to his 4ft wooden posts set in a bag of concrete and writes a 10 page essay on a forum . Now don't get me wrong here as i graft everyday myself and would never look down my nose at anyone doing anything but do you get just 10% of the irony of your beef with these big earners . Oh and btw the posts you concreted in would of lasted 10 times longer if they were put inside plastic bags going in the ground and tied 6" up the posts.

I concur, but think the posts would be better on metal feet. As for how clever are some of these big boss types….most are obsessive, well they need to be to get that far. Suspect some are on the spectrum. Of the ones Ive met, and Ive met a few….you can tell they are very clever….really sharp, think quicker than most and also know who to learn from, listen too….

 

[malcolm]

The MBAs tend to have a very short term view. Senior management are insentivised by their bonus and not the long term performance of their companies.

If you work for a company that gets taken over by Indians or Chinese you see the difference. Suddenly they are thinking 20 years ahead.

Maybe that played some part here and maybe not.

 

[Screwdriver]

I don't think for one minute you believe this, these headhunted guys are way above your "requisite accounting/legal/operational skills ".They are where they are for what and who they know, may be connected to finance streams, contracts, contacts or inside knowledge from another outfit, who would ever know? One things for sure, the directors value them and for good reason.You cant generalise by citing the wrong doings of a few that have brought a company to its knees when there are millions of them out there doing very well.

Bob

Sorry but I most certainly do believe a lot of these top managers are literally robbing us blind. They can set their own salaries which (yes I am making this upo because I can't be bothered to Goggle it) are nearly always vastly above the rate of inflation. I also refuse to believe those eyewatering salaries that British Gas (no longer extant), The Post Office, all the major banks, utilities companies are anything more than an obscenity when so many people are struggling to break even.

Make hay while the sun shines. They're just giving themselves these ludicrous salaries because nobody can stop them. Oh and "bonuses" are just some sort of tax dodge anyway so not only are they greedy they're borderline dishonest and morally bankrupt.