The Boeing CST-100 Starliner has received a promising update regarding its return to Earth. Recently completed ground testing of the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have prevented it from returning since early June, has paved the way for Boeing and NASA to begin planning for its re-entry.
An update revealed, “Ground testing of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico is complete, and teams are now turning their attention to data reviews.” The objective of the testing was to assess thruster degradation to understand why some thrusters were designated as inoperable during flight and to evaluate the potential impact of reactivating them.
The term “de-selected” refers to thrusters that ceased functioning. Issues with the helium tanks that control the thrusters caused leaks both before and during the Starliner launch, resulting in several delays. Officials noted last month that the spacecraft contains 70 hours’ worth of helium, despite only needing seven hours. While they previously indicated the ship could return immediately if necessary, they expressed that they are not fully prepared for its return just yet.
Recent communications from NASA and Boeing suggested a possible return flight by the end of the month. However, the timeline is now less defined: “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.”