The Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft received positive news regarding its return to Earth. Recently, ground testing for the spacecraft’s thrusters was completed, allowing Boeing and NASA to start planning the vessel’s homeward journey. The thrusters had been a concern, as they had caused delays since the Starliner has been anchored in space since early June.
An update from 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 testing aimed to understand thruster performance issues that led to some thrusters being inactive during flight, particularly in light of helium tank leaks observed prior to and during the launch.
Officials noted that while the Starliner has enough helium for 70 hours of operation, it only requires seven hours. Although they mentioned that the spacecraft could return immediately if necessary, they emphasized that it is not ready to do so yet.
The timeline for a potential return flight remains uncertain, but in the last update, NASA and Boeing suggested a possible landing by the end of this month. Now, the focus has shifted to disassembling and inspecting the thrusters while finalizing the flight rationale in preparation for Starliner’s eventual return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the upcoming weeks.