The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received promising news regarding its return to Earth. Ground tests for the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have left it in orbit since early June, have been completed. Boeing and NASA awaited these results to initiate plans for the spacecraft’s homecoming.
The recent update stated, “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 purpose of the tests was to assess thruster performance and understand the reasons behind some thrusters being deactivated during flight, and the potential effects of reactivating them.
The term “de-selected” refers to the thrusters that became non-operational. Helium tanks controlling these thrusters experienced leaks prior to and during the Starliner’s launch, causing multiple delays. Officials mentioned that the Starliner is equipped with 70 hours of helium, despite only requiring seven for its operations. Although earlier announcements indicated the spacecraft could return immediately if necessary, officials clarified they need more time before making that decision.
In the latest update, NASA and Boeing indicated that a possible return flight could occur by the end of this month. However, the timeline has since 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.”