The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received encouraging news regarding their return home. Recent ground testing of the spacecraft’s thrusters, which has kept it in orbit since early June, has been completed. Boeing and NASA were waiting for these tests to plan the spacecraft’s return journey.
An update 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 observe the degradation of the thrusters, helping teams understand why some were deselected during flight and any potential effects of returning those thrusters to service on the Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” indicates that some thrusters had failed to function correctly. There were issues with helium tanks that control the thrusters, leaking before and during the Starliner’s launch, which led to several delays. During a press conference last month, officials indicated that the craft has ample helium onboard—70 hours’ worth—despite only needing seven. Though it was previously stated that the spacecraft could return at any moment if necessary, officials clarified that preparations for the return are not yet fully complete.
In the latest update from NASA and Boeing, a return flight was suggested for the end of this month. However, the timeline has become less specific: “Boeing and NASA engineers will proceed with thruster disassembly and inspections, and move forward with finalizing flight rationale in support of readiness reviews for Starliner’s nominal return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the coming weeks.”