The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received encouraging news regarding their return to Earth. Recent ground tests on the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have left it in orbit since early June, have been successfully completed. Boeing and NASA were awaiting these results to finalize plans for the spacecraft’s homecoming.
Last week, an update indicated, “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 tests aimed to assess thruster performance and understand the influence of some thrusters being rendered inoperable during flight.
The term “de-selected” refers to thrusters that ceased functioning. The helium tanks essential for controlling the thrusters experienced leaks before and during the launch, causing several postponements. Officials disclosed last month that the Starliner carries 70 hours of helium, despite only requiring seven for its operations. Although they suggested the spacecraft could return immediately if needed, they stated that they were not fully prepared for that eventuality.
In the most recent update, NASA and Boeing projected a possible return flight by the end of this month. However, specifics remain uncertain: “Boeing and NASA engineers will proceed with thruster disassembly and inspections and advance on 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.”