The crew of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner has received encouraging news regarding their return to Earth. Recent tests on the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have left it in space since early June, have been successfully completed. Boeing and NASA were awaiting these test results to plan the vessel’s journey back home.
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 purpose of these tests was to assess thruster performance and gain insights into why some thrusters were deactivated during flight, as well as to understand any potential effects of reactivating them on the overall flight operations.
The term “de-selected” refers to some thrusters failing to operate. Prior to and during the launch of Starliner, helium tanks that regulate the thrusters experienced leaks, resulting in several delays. Officials indicated last month that the spacecraft has 70 hours of helium on board, although it only requires seven for its operations. They mentioned earlier this month that while the craft could return immediately if necessary, they are not fully prepared for that eventuality yet.
In recent communications, NASA and Boeing commented that a return flight might occur by the end of this month. However, the timeline is now less defined: “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.”