The real joke is that the can’t bring back an empty capsule.
Boeing, in their infinite wisdom, decided to disable the software that would allow Starliner to undock by itself.
Despite it already having done this during its second test run.
So as of now, at least one astronaut MUST be inside the capsule to get this $6 billion space barnacle detached from the space station. They can’t even send up the “rescue” ship because there wouldn’t be any place for it to dock.
I think it’s more that they haven’t tested the software changing mode mid-mission. At least that’s Scott Manley’s impression(@5:50ish).
Given the software issues thus far, I can see they’d be a bit wary that flipping that switch could cause problems.
I would think they could set it back to autonomous mode but that they have to do the testing and validation to prove the system will tolerate the change with no issues.
The real joke is that the can’t bring back an empty capsule.
Boeing, in their infinite wisdom, decided to disable the software that would allow Starliner to undock by itself.
Despite it already having done this during its second test run.
So as of now, at least one astronaut MUST be inside the capsule to get this $6 billion space barnacle detached from the space station. They can’t even send up the “rescue” ship because there wouldn’t be any place for it to dock.
I think it’s more that they haven’t tested the software changing mode mid-mission. At least that’s Scott Manley’s impression(@5:50ish).
Given the software issues thus far, I can see they’d be a bit wary that flipping that switch could cause problems.
I would think they could set it back to autonomous mode but that they have to do the testing and validation to prove the system will tolerate the change with no issues.
So basically, the ISS has the equivalent of a car up on blocks parked in its driveway. How delightful.
It’s a shame they can’t toss the responsible Boeing/NASA folks out that same airlock.
All those brains and they can’t rig up a switchbot? https://us.switch-bot.com/products/switchbot-bot