The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received promising news regarding their return to Earth. Recent ground testing of the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have left it stranded in space since early June, has been completed. Both Boeing and NASA were awaiting the conclusion of these tests to initiate plans for the spacecraft’s journey home.
An update from last week stated, “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 aim of the tests was to monitor thruster degradation to better understand why certain thrusters were rendered inoperable during flight and to evaluate the potential implications of reinstating those components.
The term “de-selected” refers to the thrusters that ceased functioning. Prior to and during the Starliner launch, the helium tanks that manage the thrusters experienced leaks, contributing to several delays. Officials mentioned last month that the spacecraft is equipped with 70 hours’ worth of helium, whereas only seven hours are necessary. While earlier statements indicated the ship could technically return at any moment, officials noted they are not fully prepared for that occurrence.
The latest information from NASA and Boeing hinted that a return flight might happen at the end of this month, though that timeline has since become less specific. The update indicated that, “Boeing and NASA engineers will continue with thruster disassembly and inspections, and will finalize the flight rationale as part of the readiness reviews for Starliner’s anticipated return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the coming weeks.”