The thruster firing show is fun
this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2024
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I can't help but be reminded of Starliner render that BO featured in their Orbital Reef announcement video. There's a 3 second clip at 1:34 showing Starliner spinning up like a washing machine, thrusters firing wildly. I'm glad that that, at least, did not come to pass.
Starliner separation from the ISS confirmed!
Good riddance!
A bit of news, paraphrased:
During the coast phase over the past few hours, the flight controllers took the opportunity to perform a few tests of Starliner's thrusters. During the tests, one of the 12 RCS thrusters on the Crew Module didn't fire when commanded. The 12 thrusters are divided into 2 redundant sets of 6, so this shouldn't prevent Starliner from performing reentry and landing.
The teams also tested 10 of the 28 thrusters on the Service Module, and all performed as expected.
Not perfect, but not disastrous.
https://x.com/Commercial_Crew/status/1831752624196182416
The hatch on @BoeingSpace's #Starliner spacecraft was closed today at 1:29 p.m. ET and the spacecraft is set to undock from @Space_Station at 6:04 p.m. ET Friday, Sept. 6.
Looks pretty good with all the main chutes successfully deployed.
Deorbit burn has begun.
Edit: Nominal deorbit burn cutoff. Next up, jettison of Service Module from Crew Module.
Service Module jettison confirmed.
Next up, reentry. NASA is sharing some nice telemetry on the stream :)
Starliner has exited the ISS Keepout Sphere. All 12 burns completed nominally.
Starliner should exit the Approach Ellipsoid about 10 minutes later.
Starliner is performing a series of 12 short thruster firings to nudge its way away from the ISS. Currently halfway through, all nominal so far.
Touchdown of Starliner!
Was expecting a little more debris to be kicked up on touchdown. Wonder if the rockets didn't fire or just the camera angle?
Wonder if the rockets didnโt fire or just the camera angle?
Does Starliner have landing rockets? I know New Shepard does, but I thought Starliner might just have airbags. Also, there may have been a small hill between the camera and the landing site, so we might not have seen the exact moment of landing, given the low camera angle.
Sounds like it was all good, so just the dust not being visible on the IR view.
Undocking webcasts concluded. Starliner has exited the ISS Approach Ellipsoid.
Next up will be a 59-second deorbit burn at 2024-09-07, 03:17.
Live views from the WB-57 airplane! Nice plasma streak from Starliner!
This is probably going to be so boring, but I won't be able to look away.
Wasn't expecting such beautiful shots at midnight in the desert!
The WB-57 and IR cams really made a difference!
https://x.com/Commercial_Crew/status/1832233388981297417
#Starliner's entry cover has been closed and secured for entry.
Teams continue to target ~12am ET Sept. 7 landing in New Mexico.
Live landing coverage resumes at 10:50pm ET
Main heatshield jettison confirmed. Airbags are inflating.
Forward heatshield jettison and drogue chutes deploy.
Three healthy main chutes deployed.
Reentry has begun.
Next up will be an expected 4-minute communications blackout.
I bet the crew wished they were on it right about now.