The crew of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner has received positive news regarding its return to Earth. Recent tests on the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have kept it in orbit since early June, have been completed. Boeing and NASA were awaiting these test results to begin planning for the spacecraft’s homecoming.
An update shared last week confirmed that ground tests of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico have concluded, and teams are now focused on reviewing the data collected. The objective of the tests was to examine thruster degradation in order to understand why some thrusters were disabled during flight and the potential impact of reactivating them on the spacecraft’s overall performance during the Crew Flight Test.
Officials indicated that some thrusters were “de-selected,” meaning they ceased functioning. During the pre-launch phase, leaks were detected in the helium tanks that control the thrusters, resulting in multiple delays. At a press conference last month, officials noted that the craft has 70 hours of helium onboard, although only seven hours are needed for operation. While it was stated earlier this month that the Starliner could return if necessary, officials clarified that they are not yet prepared for its reentry.
The latest development from NASA and Boeing suggested that a return flight could be possible by the end of this month. However, the timeline is now more ambiguous as they plan to disassemble and inspect the thrusters. Engineers will also finalize flight evaluations to ensure the Starliner is ready to return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the coming weeks.