The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received encouraging news regarding their return to Earth. Recent ground tests of the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have kept it in space since early June, have been completed. Boeing and NASA had awaited these tests to start planning for the spacecraft’s homecoming.
The update from late last week confirmed that ground testing of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico has been finalized, with teams now focusing on reviewing the data. The goal of the test was to assess thruster degradation to gain insights into why some thrusters were deactivated during flight and to evaluate the potential effects of reinstating them.
The term “de-selected” refers to the thrusters that ceased functioning. Prior to and during the Starliner launch, there were leaks in the helium tanks that regulate the thrusters, resulting in several delays. Officials mentioned last month that the spacecraft is equipped with 70 hours’ worth of helium, far exceeding the seven hours required for operation. While they indicated that the craft could return to Earth immediately if necessary, they also stated that preparations for return are not yet complete.
In their latest briefing, NASA and Boeing mentioned that a return flight could be scheduled for the end of October. However, this timeline has since become less precise. The statement revealed that Boeing and NASA engineers will continue with the disassembly and inspection of the thrusters and will finalize the flight rationale to prepare for readiness reviews for Starliner’s eventual return to Earth with Commander Butch Wilmore and Pilot Suni Williams.