The crew of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner has received some encouraging news regarding their return to Earth. Recent tests on the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have been stranded in space since early June, have been successfully conducted. Boeing and NASA were awaiting the completion of these tests before making plans for the vessel’s homeward journey.
An update provided last week confirmed, “Ground testing of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico is complete, and teams are now focusing on data reviews.” The tests aimed to assess thruster performance and understand why several thrusters encountered issues during flight, as well as to evaluate the potential effects of bringing those thrusters back into service on the Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” refers to thrusters that ceased functioning. Prior leaks from helium tanks, which control the thrusters, contributed to several delays before and during the Starliner’s launch. Officials reported last month that the spacecraft carries 70 hours’ worth of helium, although it only requires seven hours. While it was stated earlier this month that the Starliner could return to Earth at any moment if necessary, officials indicated that they are not fully prepared for that outcome just yet.
The last communication from NASA and Boeing suggested a potential return flight by the end of this month. However, the timeline has since become less definitive: “Boeing and NASA engineers will proceed with thruster disassembly and inspections, and move forward with finalizing flight rationale in support of readiness reviews for Starliner’s nominal return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the coming weeks.”