The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew received promising news regarding their return to Earth. Recent ground testing of the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have kept it in space since early June, has been completed. Boeing and NASA had been awaiting these test results to begin planning for the spacecraft’s homecoming.
The testing took place at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, where the objective was to examine thruster degradation. This evaluation aims to clarify why some thrusters were disabled during the flight and to assess the potential impact of reintegrating those thrusters on the Crew Flight Test.
“De-selected” refers to the thrusters that ceased functioning. Prior to and during the Starliner’s launch, there were issues with helium leaks in the tanks that control the thrusters, contributing to several delays. Last month, officials noted that the Starliner has 70 hours’ worth of helium on board, although it only requires seven. While they previously indicated the spacecraft could return immediately if necessary, they have stated that preparations are not yet fully complete.
In the most recent update, NASA and Boeing mentioned that a return flight might be possible by the end of this month. However, the timeline is now less certain, as teams will proceed with the disassembly and inspection of the thrusters and work on concluding the flight rationale for the Starliner’s return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the upcoming weeks.