I worked for a competitor of Boeing, and was responsible for writing test requirements for large weapon systems. I cannot imagine not doing a total end-to-end test. Had I suggested it I am confident management reviews would have added it back into the plans.
End-to-end testing is very difficult. “Plus counts” (simulating missile flight - including live ordnance) are hard to pull off. It is the only time all of the pieces must work together. We now see what can happen when this step is skipped. I cannot imagine getting away with this . . .
“I worked for a competitor of Boeing, and was responsible for writing test requirements for large weapon systems. I cannot imagine not doing a total end-to-end test.”
I seriously doubt that there has EVER been an full-up end-to-end test of something as complex as this, without some ‘findings’ to be worked. And that is the purpose of such test.
“We now see what can happen when this step is skipped. I cannot imagine getting away with this . . .”
It’s a balancing act...NASA wants to ‘trust’ the contractors, but, sadly, that can result in cost-cutting that would otherwise never be permitted.