The Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft has received positive news regarding its eventual return to Earth. Recently, ground testing of the spacecraft’s thrusters was completed, marking a significant step after being stuck in space since early June. Both Boeing and NASA had been awaiting the conclusion of these tests before planning the ship’s return journey.
An update reported that the testing of the Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico is now finished, and teams are shifting focus to data analysis. This testing aimed to identify thruster degradation issues, providing insights into why certain thrusters were not operational during the flight and the potential implications of reactivating them.
“De-selected” thrusters indicate that some experiences malfunctioned. There were prior issues with helium tanks that regulate the thrusters, which experienced leaks before and during the Starliner launch, causing several delays. Officials previously mentioned that the spacecraft has an excess supply of helium onboard, significantly more than required for its current needs. While it has been stated that the craft could technically return to Earth at any time, officials have indicated that they are not fully prepared for that step yet.
The latest statement from NASA and Boeing suggested a potential return flight at the end of this month. However, the timeline is now less clear. Boeing and NASA engineers are set to disassemble and inspect the thrusters, moving towards finalizing the necessary preparations for Starliner’s safe return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the upcoming weeks.