The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received encouraging news regarding their return to Earth. The spacecraft, which has been stranded in space since early June due to thruster issues, has successfully completed ground testing of its thrusters. Boeing and NASA were waiting for these tests to devise a plan for the spacecraft’s return journey.
An update revealed that ground testing of the Starliner’s Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster took place at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. The primary goal of the tests was to examine thruster degradation, which will help the teams understand why certain thrusters were inoperative during flight and assess the potential impact of returning them to service.
The term “de-selected” refers to thrusters that stopped functioning. Prior to and during launch, helium tanks controlling the thrusters experienced leaks, resulting in multiple delays. Officials reported that the Starliner has 70 hours of helium on board, significantly more than the seven hours it requires. While they noted earlier this month that the ship could return now if necessary, they indicated that they are not yet fully prepared for its return.
The most recent information from NASA and Boeing suggests that a return flight may occur at the end of this month. However, the timeline has become less certain, with Boeing and NASA engineers planning to disassemble and inspect the thrusters while moving forward with final preparations for the Starliner’s return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the coming weeks.