The crew of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner has received encouraging news regarding its return to Earth. Recent ground testing of the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have left the vehicle stranded in space since early June, has been successfully completed. This testing was a prerequisite for Boeing and NASA to begin planning the spacecraft’s journey home.
According to a recent update, “Ground testing of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico is complete, and teams are now focusing on data reviews.” The primary goal of these tests was to analyze thruster degradation to understand why some thrusters were inoperable during the flight and to assess the potential impact of reactivating those thrusters on the upcoming Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” refers to thrusters that failed to operate. Issues arose from leaking helium tanks that control the thrusters, causing several delays prior to and during the Starliner’s launch. Despite having 70 hours of helium on board—much more than the needed seven hours—officials indicated last month that while the craft could return at any time, they are not yet prepared for that eventuality.
In their latest statement, NASA and Boeing indicated that a return flight could be possible at the end of this month. However, the timeline has since become less precise. The teams will now conduct thruster disassembly and inspections, working towards finalizing flight preparations in anticipation of Starliner’s safe return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the forthcoming weeks.