Boeing plans to launch a second unpiloted test flight of its CST – 100 Starliner crew ferry ship after software glitches last December prevented a rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station and briefly threatened the spacecraft’s survival, company officials said Monday.
A review of the December flight pinpointed the causes of the problems and the steps required to correct them. No new issues were uncovered, but NASA managers said at the that time no decision had been made on whether a reflight might be required.
The Monday announcement said Boeing had “chosen to refly our Orbital Flight Test to demonstrate the quality of the Starliner system. “
“Flying another uncrewed flight will allow us to complete all flight test objectives and evaluate the performance of the second Starliner vehicle at no cost to the taxpayer,” the company statement said. “We will then proceed to the tremendous responsibility and privilege of flying astronauts to the International Space Station.”
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