The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received positive news regarding their eventual return to Earth. Recent tests of the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have been inoperable since early June, have been completed. Boeing and NASA awaited the results of these tests before planning the spacecraft’s return journey.
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 reviewing the data.” The testing aimed to analyze thruster degradation to understand why some thrusters failed during flight and to assess any potential effects of bringing those thrusters back into service for the Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” refers to thrusters that ceased functioning. Issues with the helium tanks controlling the thrusters caused leaks prior to and during the Starliner launch, contributing to several delays. Officials noted last month that the spacecraft has 70 hours of helium on board, despite only needing seven hours’ worth. They indicated that while the craft could theoretically return now if necessary, they are not fully prepared for the return yet.
Previously, NASA and Boeing suggested that a return flight might happen at the end of this month. However, the timeline has become less specific: “Boeing and NASA engineers will proceed with thruster disassembly and inspections and move forward with finalizing flight rationale in support of readiness reviews for Starliner’s nominal return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the coming weeks.”