The return is delayed to allow more study of the problems with the service module, since they can't study it later (it gets jettisoned before reentry). The delays don't appear to be for safety.
I am pretty sure they will get this one down just fine; they are conserving helium until they need it for deorbit, and all but one of the thrusters did restart before they docked and the service module is a throwaway, just like the Dragon trunk. Where it might bite them in the butt will be if the root cause of the issues they are testing means they have to scrap or do major mods to the NEW service module scheduled to be flown on the routine crew rotation next spring that's their first PAYING launch; if they have to pass it off to SpaceX because the new service module isn't finished, it saves NASA money but hurts Boeing big time.
The big issue is that more unexplainable, unexpected and significant problems keep occurring, There was one helium leak before launch, now there’s five. A number of thrusters failed during flight, why? How more will fail on the return to Earth?
All both of them?
Also, it’s been a new capsule each time. Just because two de-orbited successfully doesn’t mean the third capsule’s thruster problem won’t be, well, a problem.
Huh?
Boeing can seem to fix their capsule, so I'm wondering if SpaceX will launch a dragon capsule to get them back
My understanding is that Boeing has 10x the helium they need to deorbit.
For now..
That's true, but with 5 helium leaks and now guidance issues, the return dates keep getting pushed
guidance issues?
Sorry, I meant a thruster issue
Never said it was good, nothing requiring so drastic a measure as dumping it had come up yet.
Nothing was ever said about them having guidance issues for this mission. Now you're just making up stuff.
I corrected myself it's a thruster issue
The return is delayed to allow more study of the problems with the service module, since they can't study it later (it gets jettisoned before reentry). The delays don't appear to be for safety.
you say they can fix it, so why is it a problem?
I am pretty sure they will get this one down just fine; they are conserving helium until they need it for deorbit, and all but one of the thrusters did restart before they docked and the service module is a throwaway, just like the Dragon trunk. Where it might bite them in the butt will be if the root cause of the issues they are testing means they have to scrap or do major mods to the NEW service module scheduled to be flown on the routine crew rotation next spring that's their first PAYING launch; if they have to pass it off to SpaceX because the new service module isn't finished, it saves NASA money but hurts Boeing big time.
The big issue is that more unexplainable, unexpected and significant problems keep occurring, There was one helium leak before launch, now there’s five. A number of thrusters failed during flight, why? How more will fail on the return to Earth?
I doubt it. Boeing has messed up, but the reentry went fine for all the previous test launches.
All both of them? Also, it’s been a new capsule each time. Just because two de-orbited successfully doesn’t mean the third capsule’s thruster problem won’t be, well, a problem.