Stefan Mileschin

Apparently, it may not be up to snuff

A second software problem during a CST-100 Starliner test flight is prompting a NASA safety panel to recommend a review of Boeing's software verification processes.

Space News reports: That new software problem, not previously discussed by NASA or Boeing, was discussed during a 6 February meeting of NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel that examined the December uncrewed test flight of Starliner that was cut short by a timer error.

That anomaly was discovered during ground testing while the spacecraft was in orbit, panel member Paul Hill said. "While this anomaly was corrected in flight, if it had gone uncorrected, it would have led to erroneous thruster firings and uncontrolled motion during [service module] separation for deorbit, with the potential for a catastrophic spacecraft failure."

The exact cause of the failure remains under investigation by Boeing and NASA, who are also still examining the timer failure previously reported.

Those problems, Hill said, suggested broader issues with how Boeing develops and tests the software used by the spacecraft. "The panel has a larger concern with the rigour of Boeing's verification processes", he said.

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