The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received promising news about their eventual return to Earth. Recent ground tests on the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have left it in orbit since early June, have been completed. Boeing and NASA were awaiting these tests before they could start planning the spacecraft’s homecoming.
According to a recent update, “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 goal of the testing was to assess thruster performance and understand the reasons behind the in-flight deactivation of some thrusters, as well as to evaluate the potential effects of reactivating them.
The term “de-selected” refers to the thrusters that ceased functioning. There were issues with the helium tanks that control the thrusters, which experienced leaks prior to and during the Starliner launch, resulting in several delays. Officials previously reported that the spacecraft has 70 hours’ worth of helium, even though only seven hours are required. While they indicated that the Starliner could return at any moment if necessary, they asserted that they are not entirely ready for that to happen yet.
In a prior update, NASA and Boeing stated that a return flight might occur at the end of this month. However, the timeline remains uncertain now. “Boeing and NASA engineers will continue 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.”