Main Engine Cut Off
T+299: Starliner, According to Butch and Suni (with Eric Berger)
Apr 3, 2025
In this discussion, Eric Berger, a space journalist at Ars Technica, sheds light on his recent interviews with astronauts Butch and Suni following their challenging Starliner flight. He reveals surprising details about the mission's unforeseen issues and the critical decisions made in the face of thruster failures. Berger also explores the political dynamics impacting NASA’s future goals and highlights the urgent need for thorough testing before upcoming crewed missions, revealing the complex interplay of space exploration and policy.
28:50
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Quick takeaways
- The recent Starliner mission faced significant operational challenges, revealing serious thruster failures that increased risks during docking attempts with the ISS.
- Interviews with astronauts Butch and Suni highlighted a disconnect between NASA's public statements about thruster issues and the actual severity experienced during the flight.
Deep dives
The Starliner Mission Challenges
The recent Starliner mission revealed significant operational challenges, particularly concerning thruster failures that compromised flight stability. During the mission, astronauts Butch and Sonny encountered a precarious situation where one more thruster failure could have led to a loss of control over the spacecraft. Despite initial communications from NASA downplaying the severity of these thruster issues, it became clear through interviews that the astronauts faced a heightened level of risk while attempting to dock with the International Space Station. They ultimately had to decide whether to proceed with docking or abort the mission entirely, with the choice to continue being deemed more favorable under the circumstances.
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