Missing Pin Caused Deploy Failure of 3rd Parachute During Boeing Starliner Pad Abort Test

Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner astronaut space taxi test vehicle descends on the end of two parachutes during the Nov. 4, 2019 Pad Abort Test for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The Starliner’s heat shield can be seen falling away beneath the vehicle.  Airbags then inflated as planned in preparation for landing in the New Mexico desert at White Sands. Credit: Boeing

7 November 2019

Ken Kremer - - For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM 

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL – A missing pin connecting lines between a pilot parachute and a main parachute caused the clearly visible failure of the 3^rd parachute to deploy from Boeing’s Starliner space taxi during the Pad Abort Test with a test version of the vehicle this week on Monday, Nov. 4 – a critical test of the emergency abort system  that was otherwise fully successful, Boeing officials said at a media briefing today Nov. 7.  

The “lack of secure connection between the pilot chute and the main chute lanyard” was the “root cause” of the non-deployment of one of the three of main parachutes from the Starliner capsule during the Nov. 4 Pad Abort Test, Boeing’s John Mulholland and  commercial crew vice president confirmed during a Nov. 7 media conference call with reporters, including Space UpClose.

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:
https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/missing-pin-caused-deploy-failure-of-3rd-parachute-during-boeing-starliner-pad-abort-test/

Astronauts Grapple Commercial Cygnus Cargo Freighter upon ISS Arrival, to Unload 4 Tons NASA Science: Photos

The U.S. Cygnus space freighter from Northrop Grumman is pictured in the grips of the Canadarm2 robotic arm as it was installed to the Unity module on Nov. 4, 2019 for 70 days of cargo transfers.  Cygnus launched on Northrop Grumman Antares rocket on Nov. 2, 2019 from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, VA. Credit: NASA

4 November 2019

Ken Kremer - - For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM

NASA WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY, VA – A pair of NASA’s female American astronauts successfully grappled the Cygnus commercial cargo freighter using the Canadian-built hi tech robotic arm Monday morning, Nov. 4 after its flawless and beautiful blastoff from NASA’s mid-Atlantic launch base on Virginia’s shores on Saturday, Nov. 2 and two day voyage from the Earth to arrival at the International Space Station (ISS) delivering 4 tons NASA science.

After a 40 hour trek through low Earth orbit Cygnus arrived in the vicinity of the ISS in the wee hours of Monday morning. 

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:
https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/astronauts-grapple-commercial-cygnus-cargo-freighter-upon-iss-arrival-to-unload-4-tons-nasa-science-photos/

SpaceX Completes Successful Falcon 9 Static Fire Test, Targets Starlink Launch Nov. 11 with Reused Fairing and Booster

SpaceX conducts successful static fire test of Falcon 9 first stage engines at approximately 12:30 p.m. EST on Nov. 5 with exhaust spewing out from the flame trench at Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL, for Starlink-1 mission targeted for launch Nov. 11, 2019 at 9:51 a.m. EST.  Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com 

5 November 2019

Ken Kremer - - For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM 

TITUSVILLE, FL- SpaceX engineers completed a lunchtime static fire test of their Falcon 9 rocket today Tuesday, Nov. 5 on Cape Canaveral and are now targeting Monday morning Nov. 11 for launch of the second batch of 60 Starlink broadband satellites to LEO – the mission also marks a major new milestone in rocket recycling by featuring the first time use of a reused payload fairing as well as a reused first stage booster.

The brief hold down hotfire test of the SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage rocket and engines raised vertical took place today at approximately 12:30 p.m. EST on Space Launch Complex-40 (SLC-40) on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL under stormy skies on Florida’s Space Coast.

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:
https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/spacex-completes-successful-falcon-9-static-fire-test-targets-starlink-1-launch-nov-11/

Boeing Completes Starliner Pad Abort Test but 1 Parachute Fails to Deploy

Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner test vehicle descends on only two parachutes after the third failed to deploy during the Nov. 4, 2019 Pad Abort Test for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Airbags then inflated as planned in preparation for landing in the New Mexico desert at White Sands. Credit: NASA TV

4 November 2019

Ken Kremer - - For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM 

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL – Boeing completed a critical test of the emergency abort system for the Starliner commercial crew capsule that was mostly successful – except for an unexplained anomaly that resulted in 1 of 3 main landing parachutes failing to deploy during the Pad Abort Test carried out on Monday, November 4  by firing off a test stand in White Sands New Mexico in support of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program to ferry our astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).

At this time both Boeing and NASA say the test was successful and furthermore that the parachute deployment failure will not delay Boeing’s next critical test flight – namely the planned Dec. 17 uncrewed launch of the Starliner crew vehicle.  But a full analysis of the outcome will be conducted to determine the root cause of the failure and any impact on the upcoming flight schedule. 

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:
https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/boeing-completes-starliner-pad-abort-test-but-1-parachute-fails-to-deploy/

Critical Boeing Starliner Pad Abort Test Set for Nov 4: Watch Live

Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft and its service module sit atop the test stand at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico ahead of the company’s Pad Abort Test. The test is scheduled for Nov. 4, 2019, and will demonstrate the spacecraft’s ability to quickly escape the launch pad in the event of an emergency on launch day.  Credits: Boeing

4 November 2019

Ken Kremer - - For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM 

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL – A critical test of the launch abort system for the Boeing Starliner crew capsule called the Pad Abort Test  is set to take place for this morning Monday, Nov. 4 from a test stand in White Sands New Mexico. 

The test version of the Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft and its service module now sit atop the test stand at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico ahead of the Pad Abort Test. 

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:

https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/critical-boeing-starliner-pad-abort-test-set-for-nov-4-watch-live/

Gorgeous Liftoff for Antares Commercial Rocket and Cygnus Cargo Freighter Carrying Space Cookie Oven, Mice and EVA Tools to ISS: Photos

Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, with Cygnus NG-12 resupply spacecraft onboard, launched at 9:59 a.m. EDT from Pad-0A of NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia Nov. 2, 2019.  Cygnus is loaded with 8,200 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware.  Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/SpaceUpClose.com

2 November 2019

Ken Kremer - - For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM

NASA WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY, VA – After mid-week torrential downpours cleared out hordes of space enthusiasts witnessed a gorgeous liftoff of the most powerful version of the Northrop Grumman commercial Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo freighter from NASA’s mid-Atlantic launch base on Virginia’s eastern shore to the International Space Station on Saturday, Nov. 2 carrying a space cookie oven, a crew of micetonauts and newly developed EVA tools for spacewalking astronauts needed to extend the life of the critical AMS dark matter experiment attached to outposts truss.

The breakfast time blastoff of the Antares Cygnus NG-12 mission on Northrop Grumman’s 12th commercial resupply mission to the space station from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport occurred right on time at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility seaside launch pad 0A at 9:59 a.m. EDT Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019 from launch pad 0A.

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:
https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/gorgeous-liftoff-for-antares-rocket-and-cygnus-cargo-freighter-carrying-space-cookie-oven-mice-and-eva-tools-to-iss-photos/

Breakfast Blastoff Set for Antares Rocket from Virginia to ISS Saturday Nov. 2, Weather 95% GO: Watch Live

Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus resupply spacecraft is seen horizontal during late cargo load operations on Pad-0A November 1, 2019 at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Northrop Grumman’s 12th contracted cargo resupply mission with NASA to the International Space Station will launch around 8,200 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew Nov. 2, 2019. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/SpaceUpClose.com

1 November 2019

Ken Kremer - - For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM 

NASA WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY, VA – All systems are GO for the planned breakfast blastoff of the private Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo freighter from NASA’s launch base on Virginia’s eastern shore to the International Space Station on Saturday, Nov. 2 on a commercial resupply mission for NASA delivering over 4 tons of research investigations and supplies to the six person crew – and the weather is outstanding at 95% GO !!

Liftoff of the Antares Cygnus mission on Northrop Grumman’s 12th commercial resupply mission to the space station from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility at 9:59 a.m. EDT Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019 from launch pad 0A.

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:
https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/breakfast-blastoff-set-for-antares-rocket-from-virginia-to-iss-saturday-nov-2-weather-95-go-watch-live/