The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received a positive update regarding their return to Earth. The spacecraft has been awaiting testing of its thrusters since it became stranded in space in early June, and recent ground tests have now been completed. Boeing and NASA were waiting for these tests to plan the spacecraft’s return.
“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 focusing on data analysis,” an update indicated late last week. The purpose of the tests was to assess thruster degradation for a better understanding of the failures that led to some thrusters being ineffective during flight and to determine the effects of possibly reactivating those thrusters on the overall Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” refers to thrusters that have failed to operate. There were leaks in the helium tanks controlling the thrusters before and during the launch, resulting in numerous delays. Officials mentioned in a press conference last month that although the spacecraft has 70 hours’ worth of helium on board—far exceeding the seven hours required—it is still not ready for immediate return despite previous claims that it could come back if necessary.
The last reports from NASA and Boeing suggested that the return flight might happen at the end of this month. However, the timeline has become less specific: “Boeing and NASA engineers will conduct thruster disassembly and inspections, continuing to refine flight plans in anticipation of readiness reviews for Starliner’s planned return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the weeks ahead.”