The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received some encouraging news regarding their return to Earth. The completion of ground testing for the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have left it stranded in space since early June, marks a significant milestone. Boeing and NASA were awaiting the results of these tests to initiate plans for the spacecraft’s homecoming.
An update issued last week stated, “Ground testing of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico is complete, and teams are now turning their attention to data reviews.” The purpose of the test was to assess thruster performance degradation, allowing engineers to understand why certain thrusters were deactivated during flight and the potential implications of reactivating them for the Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” indicates that some thrusters ceased to function. Prior to and during the Starliner launch, leaks were detected 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, though only seven hours are necessary for its operations. While they indicated earlier this month that the craft could return immediately if required, they clarified that more preparation is needed before that happens.
In a previous update, NASA and Boeing suggested a potential return flight at the end of this month. However, the timeline has shifted slightly: “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.”