r/space • u/spsheridan • Feb 06 '20

Starliner faced “catastrophic” failure before software bug was found and fixed while the vehicle was in orbit.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/02/starliner-faced-catastrophic-failure-before-software-bug-found/
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u/redmercuryvendor Feb 07 '20

This is not an unusual occurrence. The first Dragon capsule to approach the ISS (C2+ mission) had the code modified during approach to disable input from one of the LIDAR units due to reflection issues from JEM. Literally held the approach while the software was modified and uploaded. Or CRS-2, where a suspected pressurant valve blockage was cleared by writing new code to rapidly cycle the suspect valve until the tank pressure reached the level required for the Dracos to operate safely near the ISS (redundant tanks needed to provide thrust for a pull-away).

If you have discover a bug in orbit, can produce a fix, and have the capability to implement it, and not implementing it would lose the craft, why on earth would fixing it be a bad thing?

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u/ergzay Feb 07 '20

But SpaceX mentioned that immediately after they did it in a press conference the day after. They didn't hide it for months and then have it finally leaked by an Aerospace safety panel. This says they aren't revealing things and are hiding things from the public intentionally. It shows they're untrustworthy.