The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received encouraging news regarding their spacecraft’s return to Earth. Following the completion of ground testing for the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have left it in orbit since early June, Boeing and NASA are poised to start planning the return journey.
An update released last week confirmed the successful completion of testing a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. The testing aimed to evaluate thruster performance and degradation, helping the teams understand why some thrusters were deactivated during flight and the potential implications of reactivating them.
The term “de-selected” refers to thrusters that failed to operate properly. Leaks were identified in the helium tanks that control the thrusters both before and during the launch, resulting in several delays. Officials reported last month that the spacecraft is equipped with 70 hours of helium despite only requiring seven hours for its operations. While they noted that the Starliner could theoretically return to Earth immediately if necessary, they emphasized that they are not yet fully prepared for its departure.
In the most recent update, NASA and Boeing indicated that a return flight could potentially occur at the end of this month. However, the timeframe has become less definitive, with plans now set for engineers to begin disassembling and inspecting the thrusters while finalizing preparations for a timely return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams expected in the upcoming weeks.