The troubled space odyssey of Boeing's Starliner has added to the woes of a company already beset by grave challenges back on Earth.
A spate of technical issues plaguing the capsule mean a planned eight-day mission on the International Space Station (ISS) for astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, which began in June, could extend to eight months.
The headaches do not stop there for the ailing aerospace giant – as the Nasa astronauts may end up having to hitch a ride home on the rival Dragon capsule operated by Elon Musk's Space X as far off as next February.
Nasa said it will announce an update on Saturday and was considering SpaceX as an option, to finally conclude a prolonged test flight which forms a key part a $4.2 billion contract with Boeing.
Experts in the industry said that outcome of Nasa’s decision will have significant implications for Boeing's role in the commercial space sector and could influence future mission planning for the agency.
'Embarrassing' setback
"This would be quite embarrassing for Boeing – right now they have not demonstrated that they can match the capability of bringing astronauts safely to and from the space station, which SpaceX Dragon has been providing for years," Dr Sarah Gallagher, director of the Institute for Earth and Space Exploration at Western University, in Ontario, Canada, told The National.
Boeing has been developing the Starliner for nearly a decade as part of Nasa's Commercial Crew Programme, which the agency launched to have several "taxi" options for its astronauts.
But the Starliner programme has faced various technical issues over the years, including on this first crewed flight, in which the craft suffered helium leaks and thruster issues.
Meanwhile, SpaceX has already launched eight crews for the agency so far.
"Nasa is going to be careful about risking the safety of the astronauts when there is another option for getting them back to Earth that is less risky," said Dr Gallagher.
"It is better for Nasa if there are more options for getting people to and from space – this adds redundancy in case of problems.
"However, if a vendor continues to be unreliable, one would certainly think twice about continuing to work with them."
Two 'taxi' options for Nasa astronauts
Nasa launched the Commercial Crew Programme after having to rely on the Russians since 2011 when its Space Shuttle flights ended.
SpaceX vehicles continue to be a reliable transport for Nasa astronauts and private clients, and despite delays, it was a huge milestone for Boeing and Nasa to finally launch a crewed test flight on Starliner.
But it could be a while before Nasa could say that it has two trusted space vehicles, according to Dr Simeon Barber, senior research fellow at The Open University.
“In reality, even if Suni and Butch do come home on Starliner, it seems inevitable that a lot of further engineering work will be needed to bring Starliner up to scratch before it can be considered a fully proven vehicle,” she said.
"Perhaps the events since Starliner’s launch serve to vindicate Nasa’s decision to develop two, independent options to get its astronauts to and from ISS.
"So, although the return journey is a hard decision to make right now, it is in fact a luxury to have a choice."
Boeing's relationship with Nasa
Boeing has been a key partner of Nasa for decades, contributing to major space missions such as Apollo and the Space Shuttle.
In recent years, their collaboration has focused on the Commercial Crew Programme.
Michael Flachbart, former vice president of global space camp operations at the US Space and Rocket Centre, said trust between the two organisations could be strained after problems with Starliner.
"The partnership dynamics in the short term are highly dependent on whether the Starliner returns safely with no crew, has major issues, or is lost altogether," he said.
"The dynamics are already stressed due to the issues encountered on this flight and Starliner’s history to date.
"Trust could be completely lost if there are major issues and it is deemed that Boeing underplayed the risks of a crewed return."
Sahith Reddy Madara, an aerospace engineer and founder of Paris-based advisory firm Bumi and Space, said it could be a tipping point for Nasa to rethink its reliance on Boeing for future missions.
He said Boeing could find itself in a position "where it is not the legacy giant any more".
"In the bigger picture, this could open doors for other players in the space industry," said Mr Madara.
"If Boeing doesn’t step up, Nasa might start looking at newer companies who can deliver on time and under budget.
"For years, Boeing has been the trusted partner, but let's be real – Starliner’s been plagued with setbacks and that’s starting to wear thin."
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
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Golden Shoe top five (as of March 1):
Harry Kane, Tottenham, Premier League, 24 goals, 48 points
Edinson Cavani, PSG, Ligue 1, 24 goals, 48 points
Ciro Immobile, Lazio, Serie A, 23 goals, 46 points
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, Premier League, 23 goals, 46 points
Lionel Messi, Barcelona, La Liga, 22 goals, 44 points
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LA LIGA FIXTURES
Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)
Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The five pillars of Islam
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Read more about the coronavirus
Primera Liga fixtures (all times UAE: 4 GMT)
Friday
Real Sociedad v Villarreal (10.15pm)
Real Betis v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Barcelona (8.15pm)
Levante v Deportivo La Coruna (10.15pm)
Girona v Malaga (10.15pm)
Las Palmas v Atletico Madrid (12.15am)
Sunday
Espanyol v Leganes (8.15pm)
Eibar v Athletic Bilbao (8.15pm)
Getafe v Sevilla (10.15pm)
Real Madrid v Valencia (10.15pm)
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
The years Ramadan fell in May
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
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EXPATS
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The%20specs
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Results:
5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1.400m | Winner: AF Mouthirah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Saab, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 1,600m | Winner: Majd Al Gharbia, Saif Al Balushi, Ridha ben Attia
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed Dh 180,000 1,600m | Winner: RB Money To Burn, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh 70,000 2,200m | Winner: AF Kafu, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 2,400m | Winner: Brass Ring, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
ASHES FIXTURES
1st Test: Brisbane, Nov 23-27
2nd Test: Adelaide, Dec 2-6
3rd Test: Perth, Dec 14-18
4th Test: Melbourne, Dec 26-30
5th Test: Sydney, Jan 4-8
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Power: 579hp
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
RESULT
Everton 2 Huddersfield Town 0
Everton: Sigurdsson (47'), Calvert-Lewin (73')
Man of the Match: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton)
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
Mane points for safe home colouring
- Natural and grey hair takes colour differently than chemically treated hair
- Taking hair from a dark to a light colour should involve a slow transition through warmer stages of colour
- When choosing a colour (especially a lighter tone), allow for a natural lift of warmth
- Most modern hair colours are technique-based, in that they require a confident hand and taught skills
- If you decide to be brave and go for it, seek professional advice and use a semi-permanent colour
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Sanju
Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani
Rating: 3.5 stars
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