The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received positive news regarding their return to Earth. Recent ground tests of the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have left it in orbit since early June, have been completed. Boeing and NASA were awaiting these tests before planning the vessel’s homecoming.
An update shared last week indicated, “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 reviews.” The purpose of the tests was to examine thruster degradation to understand the reasons behind certain thrusters being de-selected during flight and the potential effects of reactivating those thrusters on the ongoing Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” refers to some thrusters ceasing to function. Issues with helium tanks controlling the thrusters resulted in leaks prior to and during the Starliner’s launch, causing several delays. During a press conference last month, officials noted that the spacecraft is equipped with 70 hours’ worth of helium, despite only needing seven. Although they mentioned earlier this month that the Starliner could potentially return to Earth immediately, they emphasized that they are not yet fully prepared for that.
In the latest updates, NASA and Boeing suggested that a return flight might take place by the end of this month. Currently, the timeline is less defined: “Boeing and NASA engineers will proceed with thruster disassembly and inspections, and continue to finalize flight rationale in preparation for readiness reviews for Starliner’s planned return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the upcoming weeks.”