The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authorized Boeing's request to build and launch its own satellite-based Internet service, paving the way for another competitor to SpaceX's Starlink project. According to the announcement letter from the FCC, Boeing intends to use its future satellite constellation to provide "broadband and communications services" around the world.
NASA is putting out a call for more astronaut shuttles, expanding the Commercial Crew program with additional missions beyond those already agreed with SpaceX and Boeing. The request for "safe, reliable, and cost-effective human space transportation services to and from the International Space Station" comes as the US space agency looks ahead to the future of the ISS and, beyond that, missions to the Moon and further afield.
Boeing was forced to scrub its launch of the CST-100 Starliner OFT-2 mission in early August, only hours ahead of its scheduled launch. The problem was that 13 valves that control propellant stuck in the off position wouldn't activate. Boeing tried to troubleshoot the issue on the launchpad, but eventually, the rocket was removed so it could be disassembled for investigation.
Things haven't gone as smoothly with the Starliner as Boeing and NASA would've hoped. The launch of the Starliner was scrubbed due to a problem with valves. The spacecraft had to be removed from the launchpad and disassembled to address the problem, and currently, NASA and Boeing have been unable to fix the issue.
On Wednesday, Boeing and the US Air Force teamed with the Qatar Emiri Air Force to unveil the F-15QA, a version of the F-15 fighter jet that features advanced technologies, including a digital cockpit made entirely of glass. These fighter jets will be shipped to Qatar for use by its air force in partnership with the US military.
Boeing is moving the troubled Starliner back to its factory, after NASA scrubbed the spacecraft's launch last week over valve failures in the propulsion system. The Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) had been intended to show that the CST-100 could safely reach the International Space Station and return, but instead it revealed things still weren't quite ready for primetime.
Boeing continues to attempt to fix its Starliner spacecraft, after NASA scrubbed the OFT-2 launch last week following seizures in multiple key valves. The mission was meant to give Boeing an overdue opportunity to demonstrate that its CST-100 could safely reach the International Space Station and thus allow the aerospace company to move ahead in NASA's Commercial Crew program.
Boeing's Starliner issues last week were more serious than most believed, it's been revealed today, with numerous valve failures in the propulsion system forcing NASA to scrub the launch. Starliner, which Boeing hopes one day will fly NASA astronauts to the International Space Station, has struggled through numerous setbacks over the past few years, though the aerospace firm had hoped to put that behind it with a successful OFT-2 mission.
Using the portable simulator E-2D from Northrup Grumman, Boeing and a team of experts demonstrated the manned-unmanned use of a drone to refill a fighter jet while in the sky. The effort involved "virtual carrier air wing teaming scenarios," according to Boeing, including the F/A-18 Super Hornet and the US Navy's MQ-255 Stingray unmanned aerial refueler.
This week was supposed to be the long-awaited second uncrewed test launch of the Boeing Starliner space capsule called Orbital Flight Test-2. The spacecraft was on the launch pad earlier this week when the launch was canceled after an incident with thrusters firing accidentally on the new Russian laboratory module aboard the ISS. The flight was rescheduled for the next day, but it was again delayed on August 3 with hopes that the mission could launch on August 4.
NASA and Boeing have scrubbed today's Starliner Orbital Flight Test-2 launch, though contrary to expectations it's not because of last week's problems at the International Space Station. The US space agency had warned that the Starliner launch might be pushed back, after an unexpected incident on the new Russian ISS module saw it shuffled out of position.
With the new Russian module successfully attached to the ISS, NASA is now turning its attention to the Starliner launch expected to happen early next week. NASA has confirmed that it will provide prelaunch, launch, and docking activities coverage for the Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 mission to the ISS. OFT-2 is the second uncrewed flight test of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft as part of the Commercial Crew Program.