The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received positive news regarding their return to Earth. Recently completed ground tests on the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have remained in space since early June, have paved the way for planning the vessel’s homecoming.
According to an update provided late last week, the ground testing of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster was successfully conducted at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. Teams are now focusing on reviewing the data collected during these tests. The main goal was to assess any degradation of the thrusters to gain insights into the reasons some thrusters were deactivated during flight, as well as understanding the implications of potentially restoring those thrusters to service for the Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” refers to certain thrusters that malfunctioned. Prior to and during the launch, the helium tanks that control these thrusters experienced leaks, contributing to several delays. Officials noted last month that the Starliner is equipped with 70 hours of helium, vastly exceeding the seven hours it requires for operation. Although they indicated earlier this month that the spacecraft could return immediately if necessary, they clarified that it is not yet fully prepared for the journey home.
In their last update, NASA and Boeing suggested a possible return flight by the end of this month. However, the timeline has become less specific: “Boeing and NASA engineers will continue with thruster disassembly and inspections, and work on finalizing flight rationale to support readiness reviews for Starliner’s planned return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the upcoming weeks.”