The crew of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner has received encouraging news regarding their return to Earth. The completion of ground tests on the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have prevented it from coming back since early June, marks a significant development. Boeing and NASA had awaited the results of these tests to begin formulating plans for the spacecraft’s homeward journey.
An update released late last week noted, “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 objective of the tests was to analyze thruster performance and degradation to understand the reasons behind the in-flight malfunction of some thrusters and to assess the implications of potentially reactivating them for the Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” refers to thrusters that ceased functioning during the mission. Issues arose with the helium tanks that control the thrusters, which experienced leaks before and during launch, contributing to several delays. Officials previously indicated that the spacecraft carries 70 hours’ worth of helium, while only seven hours are actually required. Although they mentioned earlier this month that the spacecraft could return at any time if necessary, it’s clear that preparations are still ongoing.
During the last update, NASA and Boeing suggested a potential return flight by the end of this month. However, that timeline has since become less specific. Currently, Boeing and NASA engineers are set to proceed with the disassembly and inspection of the thrusters, working towards finalizing the flight rationale to ensure the Starliner, commanded by Butch Wilmore and piloted by Suni Williams, is ready for its return to Earth in the upcoming weeks.