News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Boeing Starliner updates: Spacecraft flies into wrong orbit, jeopardizing test. Parent comment

Re:Boeing Starliner updates: Spacecraft flies into wrong orb... by mkagenius on Friday December 20, 2019 @11:51AM (#21845469)
> flight automation software runs on some sort of "timer"

Interesting, this might explain the failure to land the rover (vikram) on the dark side of the moon by India's recent moon mission.

For example, what if the altitude assumed by the timer is off by a few kilometers, and it starts operating in a manner which is for landing within few meters.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Boeing Starliner updates: Spacecraft flies into wrong orb... by hgoel on Friday December 20, 2019 @01:57PM (#21846525)
Landings are not generally done like that though. A landing would be basically impossible without active guidance, due to it being a far more precise maneuver than in-orbit maneuvers.
[ Parent | on HN ]