The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew received positive news regarding their journey back to Earth. Recently, ground tests of the spacecraft’s thrusters, which had been stranded since early June, were successfully completed. Boeing and NASA awaited these test results before making plans for the spacecraft’s return.
An update from last week announced, “Ground testing of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico is complete, and teams are now focused on data reviews.” The purpose of the testing was to analyze thruster performance issues that led to some thrusters being deactivated during flight, as well as to understand the potential impacts of reactivating those thrusters on the rest of the Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” refers to thrusters that failed to operate. Issues with leaking helium tanks, which control the thrusters, contributed to several delays before and during the Starliner launch. Officials noted that the spacecraft has 70 hours of helium on board, considerably more than the seven hours required for a safe return. Although they stated that the craft could return any time if necessary, they also indicated that they are not yet fully prepared for that.
In a previous update, NASA and Boeing indicated a possible return flight by the end of this month. However, the timeline has since become less specific. The current statement reveals that “Boeing and NASA engineers will proceed with thruster disassembly and inspections and continue to finalize flight rationale to support readiness reviews for Starliner’s planned return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the coming weeks.”