I guess it can happen to the best of us…
https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/11/07/boeing-identifies-cause-of-chute-malfunction-continues-preps-for-first-starliner-launch/
<https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/11/07/boeing-identifies-cause-of-chute-malfunction-continues-preps-for-first-starliner-launch/>
Boeing identifies cause of chute malfunction, preps for Starliner launch
Boeing engineers have identified what caused one of the capsule’s three main
parachutes to not deploy Monday.
“The root cause was a lack of secure connection between the pilot chute and the
main chute lanyard,” Mulholland said. “By design, the pilot parachute fires out
through a mortar, and once that pilot parachute inflates, it actually pulls the
main parachute out. But that lack of adequate connection didn’t allow the pilot
parachute to pull out the main parachute.”
Mulholland said engineers quickly identified the problem after reviewing
close-out photos of the parachutes, and through inspections of hardware
recovered after Monday’s pad abort test in New Mexico.
“The pilot chute has has a Kevlar riser with a loop at the end of it,”
Mulholland said. “The linkage is a pin, so a pin would normally be inserted
into that loop and secured. That linkage and the pilot parachute riser (are)
enclosed in a sheath, a protective sheath that prevents abrasion. So it’s very
difficult, when you’re connecting that, to verify visually that it’s secured
properly.
“In this particular case, that pin wasn’t through the loop, but it wasn’t
discovered in initial visual inspection because of that protective sheath,”
Mulholland said. “It was subsequently … determined by both detailed close-out
photos and then, obviously, when we recovered the hardware in the field, were
able to conclusively tie those two pieces together.”
So far, Boeing has confirmed the linkages between the next spacecraft’s pilot
and main parachutes were all connected correctly. Ground teams are now
verifying all parachute connections are properly secured before its scheduled
launch next month on an unpiloted test flight to the International Space
Station, Mulholland said.
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Gregory A. Lyzenga <lyzenga@xxxxxxx <mailto:lyzenga@xxxxxxx>>
Dept. of Physics, Harvey Mudd College (909) 621-8378
<tel:%28909%29%20621-8378>
Claremont, CA 91711-5990 mobile (626) 808-5314
<tel:%28626%29%20808-5314>
