Boeing Starliner in Context: Apollo, Shuttles, and American History

For some reason, I expected Monday's Starliner launch to go ahead on schedule.

It didn't, which is probably a good thing. But the delay, and staying up far later than I usually do, waiting for a news conference that I slept through anyway —

The long and the short of it is that, instead of focusing on the Starliner spacecraft this week, I decided to start talking about Boeing's reputation, SpaceX, the shift to commercial space travel and exploration; and see where that led me.

As usual, I've made a list of links to this week's headings: so feel free to skip ahead to whatever looks most interesting. Or go get a cup of coffee, take a walk, whatever. This post should still be around when you get back.

• SpaceX Dragon, Working Since 2010; Boeing Starliner, ...
  • Third Starliner Orbital Test Flight, the First With Astronauts
• "Ad Astra Per Aspera": "To the Stars Through Difficulties"
  • Lilienthal's Letter, a Lunar Plaque, and a Work in Progress
  • Apollo 1: Briefly
  • Remembering the Space Shuttle Fleet
• Reputation and Realities
  • Keeping Up With the Times: Or Not
  • Popped Panel, Dead Whistleblowers: Embarrassing
• Getting Starliner Into Orbit: It's Complicated
• Spacecraft Cabins: Mostly Starliner
  • That was Then —
  • — This is (Mostly) Now
• A Little History: Boeing, the Great Depression, Good Times —
  • — And the Skunk Works

More at A Catholic Citizen in America.

(A buzzing valve delayed the crewed Starliner test flight. My view of changing times, new technology, reputation and realities, and embarrassing deaths.)