Starliner Thruster Tests Cleared: What’s Next for Boeing’s Crew?

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The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received positive news regarding their return home, as Earthbound thruster tests have recently been completed. The spacecraft has remained in orbit since early June while Boeing and NASA awaited the results of these tests to begin planning for its return.

An update from last week indicated that testing of the Starliner’s Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico has concluded. The focus is now on reviewing the data gathered during the tests. The goal was to examine thruster performance, particularly to understand why some thrusters malfunctioned during flight and evaluate the implications of potentially reactivating those thrusters for the upcoming Crew Flight Test.

The term “de-selected” refers to certain thrusters that became non-operational. Issues included leaks in the helium tanks responsible for controlling the thrusters, which resulted in several delays leading up to the Starliner’s launch. Despite having enough helium onboard for 70 hours—far exceeding the seven hours required—officials indicated that while the spacecraft could return immediately if necessary, they are not yet ready for that scenario.

In their latest communications, NASA and Boeing mentioned that a return flight might occur at the end of this month. However, the timeframe has since become less precise. Boeing and NASA engineers are set to disassemble and inspect the thrusters, continuing with the preparations needed to finalize the flight rationale for Starliner’s anticipated return to Earth, which will carry commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the coming weeks.

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