The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew received encouraging news regarding their return to Earth as testing of the spacecraft’s thrusters has been completed. The Starliner has been stranded in space since early June, and both Boeing and NASA were awaiting these test results before finalizing plans for the spacecraft’s homecoming.
The recent update noted, “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 purpose of these tests was to analyze thruster performance degradation to gain insights into the malfunctioning thrusters encountered during flight, and to assess the potential implications of reinstating them for future missions.
Some thrusters were deemed non-operational due to helium leaks in the tanks, which occurred before and during the Starliner launch, resulting in several delays. Officials indicated that the spacecraft carries enough helium for 70 hours of operation, despite only requiring seven hours. While they noted earlier this month that the Starliner could theoretically return immediately if necessary, they acknowledged that they are not fully prepared for that scenario.
In a previous update, NASA and Boeing suggested a potential return flight could occur by the end of September. However, the timeline is now less defined, as engineers will begin disassembling and inspecting the thrusters before moving on to finalize the flight rationale. This is all in preparation for the Starliner’s planned return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the coming weeks.