The crew of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner has received encouraging news regarding its return to Earth. Testing of the spacecraft’s thrusters, which has kept it in space since early June, has recently been completed. Boeing and NASA were awaiting these test results to start organizing the spacecraft’s return journey.
A recent update indicated, “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 aim of the tests was to evaluate thruster performance and gain insights into why some thrusters were rendered inoperative during the flight, as well as to understand the implications of reinstating those thrusters for the Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” refers to the thrusters that ceased functioning. Issues arose with the helium storage tanks, which experienced leaks both prior to and during the Starliner launch, resulting in multiple delays. Despite having 70 hours of helium stored onboard, far exceeding the seven hours needed, officials clarified last month that while the spacecraft could potentially return at any moment, they are not fully prepared for its return yet.
In the latest communication, NASA and Boeing indicated that a return flight might occur at the end of this month. The timeline is now less specific: “Boeing and NASA engineers will continue with thruster disassembly and inspections, progressing towards finalizing flight rationale in support of readiness reviews for Starliner’s planned return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the coming weeks.”