The Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is showing signs of progress toward its return to Earth. Recent ground tests of the spacecraft’s thrusters at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico have been completed. These thrusters have kept the Starliner in orbit since early June, and Boeing and NASA were waiting for these tests to plan the vessel’s homecoming.
An update from last week indicated, “Ground testing of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster is complete, and teams are now focusing on data reviews.” The goal of the tests was to examine why certain thrusters were rendered inoperative during the flight and to evaluate the potential effects of returning these thrusters to service for the Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” refers to the thrusters that malfunctioned. Prior to and during the Starliner’s launch, there were issues with helium leaks from the tanks that control the thrusters, resulting in several delays. Officials mentioned last month that the Starliner has 70 hours’ worth of helium onboard, despite only needing seven. While they indicated that the spacecraft could return right away if necessary, they also acknowledged that preparations for its return were not yet complete.
In the most recent update, NASA and Boeing suggested that a return flight could happen by the end of this month. However, the timeline has become less specific, stating, “Boeing and NASA engineers will proceed with thruster disassembly and inspections and continue finalizing the 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.”