Odds that Starliner never returns to Earth?

Cliffs Notes on the Starliner?

Can’t remember, it was a crew-less test flight right?

I’d think they’d keep it docked for as long as it takes to fix the issues that cropped up. Unless it’s just completely FUBAR, I don’t see why they’d jettison it.

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Cliffs Notes on the Starliner?

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Hydrogen leaks and thruster issues

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Oh lawd. Boeing is just straight garbage.

I thought we had run out of helium?

They postponing the bad news. They screwed. This is probably worse than the titan sub

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Two crew ride it up

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Gotcha. Assuming that was supposed to be their (or maybe another crew’s) ride home I’m guessing working on it indefinitely isn’t ideal.

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Can it be fixed in space?

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Good question. They have to fix everything on the ISS in orbit so I figured they could, but I have no idea if they have the parts/expertise.

Boeing jokes aside, I still think they try to fix it since so much went into its development and getting it up there.

If the Starliner is truly boned, then it will lead to Musk and Space X getting the exclusive contract in the end.

The problem here is that the politics involved make it really hard this being the end of Boeing's involvement.

Between this timeline dragging out and the medical emergency on ISS that turned out to be a training exercise, they're definitely going to fuel some conspiracy theories.

I think NASA is close to hiring SpaceX for a rescue mission with Crew Dragon. The delays are basically ensuring SpaceX is ready.
Starliner is just a mess and it's not worth attempting reentry with 2 people onboard with all these leaks. If they have a failure of a thruster then they burn up and die. Boeing/NASA just need to call it quits on it. Crew Dragon can handle the next few years until ISS gets retired.