Starliner Thruster Tests Bring Hope for Earth Return

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The crew of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner has received encouraging news regarding their return home. Recently, ground testing for the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have left it stranded in orbit since early June, was successfully completed. Both Boeing and NASA had awaited these tests to initiate plans for the spacecraft’s journey back to Earth.

An update announced that the testing of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster took place at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, with teams now focusing on reviewing the collected data. The goal of the tests was to assess any thruster degradation, providing insights into why some thrusters were ineffective during flight and what implications could arise from reinstating those thrusters for future missions.

The term “de-selected” refers to thrusters that ceased functioning. Prior to and during launch, the helium tanks that regulate the thrusters experienced leaks, causing several delays in the mission. Officials noted that although the spacecraft is equipped with 70 hours of helium, it only requires seven for its operations. While they indicated earlier this month that the Starliner could return immediately if necessary, they also stated that preparations for that return are not yet fully complete.

In the latest briefing, NASA and Boeing mentioned the possibility of a return flight by the end of this month. However, the timeline has shifted to a more indefinite schedule: “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.”

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