The team behind the Boeing CST-100 Starliner has received encouraging news regarding the spacecraft’s return journey. Following the successful completion of ground tests for the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have kept it in orbit since early June, plans for its homeward journey can now be formulated. Boeing and NASA had been awaiting the results of these tests before finalizing their return strategy.
The update provided last week indicated that testing of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico has concluded, with teams now analyzing the data. The primary goal of the tests was to assess thruster performance degradation, particularly to understand why some thrusters were rendered inoperative during the flight, as well as to evaluate the implications of possibly reactivating these thrusters for the upcoming Crew Flight Test.
Officials explained that the term “de-selected” refers to thrusters that ceased functioning. Prior to and during the launch of Starliner, there were issues with helium leakage from the tanks that control the thrusters, contributing to multiple launch delays. During a press conference last month, representatives revealed that the spacecraft has 70 hours’ worth of helium onboard, despite needing only seven hours for its operation. While they mentioned earlier this month that the spacecraft could return to Earth immediately if necessary, they also stated that they are not entirely prepared for that eventuality.
As of the last briefing, NASA and Boeing suggested that a return flight might occur at the end of this month. However, the timeline has become less specific, stating: “Boeing and NASA engineers will continue with thruster disassembly and inspections, and will work on finalizing flight rationale to support readiness reviews for the Starliner’s planned return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the coming weeks.”