The team behind the Boeing CST-100 Starliner has received encouraging news regarding the spacecraft’s return to Earth. The testing of the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have left it in orbit since early June, has recently concluded. Boeing and NASA were awaiting the completion of these tests to begin planning for the mission’s homecoming.
A recent update indicated, “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 reviewing the data.” The objective of the tests was to assess the degradation of the thrusters, helping teams understand the issues that led to some thrusters being inactive during flight, as well as the potential impact of reactivating them.
The term “de-selected” refers to the thrusters that ceased functioning. The helium tanks, which are crucial for controlling the thrusters, were found to be leaking before and during the Starliner’s launch, resulting in several delays. At a press conference last month, officials mentioned that the spacecraft has sufficient helium onboard for 70 hours of operation, despite only requiring seven. Although they previously stated the craft could return immediately if necessary, they clarified that they are not fully prepared for its homecoming just yet.
The latest information from NASA and Boeing suggested that a return flight might be scheduled for the end of this month. However, the timeline has since become less defined. “Boeing and NASA engineers will proceed with thruster disassembly and inspections, and continue finalizing flight plans in preparation for readiness reviews for Starliner’s intended return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the coming weeks.”