The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received encouraging news regarding their return to Earth. Recent completion of ground testing on the spacecraft’s thrusters, which has left it stranded in space since early June, marks a significant step forward. Boeing and NASA had been looking to finalize the spacecraft’s return plans following these crucial tests.
“Ground testing of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico is complete, and teams are now focused on reviewing the data,” the latest update indicated. The aim of the testing was to assess thruster degradation, helping the teams understand the issues that prompted some thrusters to be deactivated during flight and the implications of potentially restoring them for the Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” refers to the failure of some thrusters. Prior to and during the launch of the Starliner, helium tanks responsible for controlling the thrusters experienced leaks, causing multiple launch delays. Officials stated that while the spacecraft carries 70 hours’ worth of helium, only seven hours are required for operations. Earlier in the month, although they claimed the spacecraft could return at any time if necessary, they also expressed that they were not yet prepared for the return.
In their most recent update, NASA and Boeing suggested that a return flight might occur at the end of the month, but the timeline is now less specific. “Boeing and NASA engineers will proceed with disassembly and inspections of the thrusters and will continue finalizing flight rationale to support readiness reviews for Starliner’s planned return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the upcoming weeks.”