The Boeing CST-100 Starliner team received promising news regarding the spacecraft’s return to Earth. Ground testing of the spacecraft’s thrusters has been completed, providing insight into its prolonged stay in space since early June. Boeing and NASA were awaiting these results to begin planning for the vessel’s return trip.
An update indicated that the testing of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico is now complete, and teams are reviewing the data. The objective of the test was to investigate thruster degradation, helping to understand why some thrusters were inactive during flight and any potential implications of reactivating them for the upcoming Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” refers to the malfunction of some thrusters, which was complicated by helium leaks in the tanks that operate the thrusters, causing previous delays. Despite having 70 hours’ worth of helium available—far more than the seven hours required—the spacecraft’s return has not yet been finalized.
NASA and Boeing have previously stated that a return flight could happen at the end of this month, but this timeline is now less certain. Moving forward, engineers will dismantle and inspect the thrusters, while also preparing for the necessary reviews to ensure readiness for Starliner’s anticipated return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the upcoming weeks.