The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew received encouraging news about their impending return to Earth. Recently completed ground testing of the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have left it stranded in space since early June, has allowed Boeing and NASA to begin plans for the vessel’s homecoming.
An update issued last week confirmed, “Ground testing of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico is complete, and teams are now focusing on data reviews.” The purpose of the testing was to assess thruster degradation to better understand why certain thrusters were not operational during flight and to evaluate the implications of potentially reactivating them for the ongoing Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” refers to thrusters that malfunctioned. Prior to and during the Starliner’s launch, there were leaks in the helium tanks that control the thrusters, which caused several delays. Officials mentioned last month that the spacecraft carries 70 hours of helium, although it only requires seven hours for its operations. While they indicated earlier this month that the craft could return to Earth immediately if necessary, they also stated they are not fully prepared for that eventuality yet.
In the latest update from NASA and Boeing, a return flight was anticipated for the end of this month. However, the timeline has become less clear: “Boeing and NASA engineers will move forward with the disassembly and inspection of the thrusters, and finalize flight rationale to support readiness reviews for Starliner’s planned return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the coming weeks.”