The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received positive news regarding their return to Earth. Ground testing of the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have left it stranded in space since early June, has now concluded. Boeing and NASA were waiting for these tests to plan the spacecraft’s descent.
“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 turning their attention to data reviews,” an update from last week announced. The primary goal of the tests was to analyze any degradation of the thrusters, aiming to uncover why some were deactivated during flight and to evaluate the implications of reactivating them on the overall Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” indicates that some thrusters had ceased functioning. Prior to and during the Starliner’s launch, helium tanks that control the thrusters experienced leaks, causing various delays. Last month, officials revealed that the spacecraft is equipped with 70 hours’ worth of helium, despite only needing seven for its operations. Although they stated earlier this month that the Starliner could return immediately if necessary, they clarified that they are not yet fully prepared for its landing.
In the latest update, NASA and Boeing mentioned that a return flight might occur by the end of this month. However, the timeline has since adjusted: “Boeing and NASA engineers will proceed 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.”