The crew of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner has received encouraging news regarding its return to Earth. Recent ground testing of the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have been inactive since early June, has been completed. Boeing and NASA had postponed planning for the spacecraft’s return until these tests were finalized.
The update indicated, “Ground testing of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico is complete, and teams are now focusing on data reviews.” The primary goal of the tests was to examine any degradation of the thrusters to understand why some were rendered inoperable during flight, as well as the potential effects of reintroducing those thrusters for upcoming missions.
The term “de-selected” refers to thrusters that malfunctioned. Issues with helium tanks, which control the thrusters, led to leaks both before and during the launch, resulting in several delays. Despite having 70 hours’ worth of helium onboard—much more than the seven hours needed—officials stated last month that, while the spacecraft could technically return now, they prefer to hold off for further preparations.
In their latest update, NASA and Boeing mentioned that a return flight might be scheduled for the end of this month, although the timeline has become less specific. “Boeing and NASA engineers will proceed with thruster disassembly and inspections and will work toward finalizing flight plans in preparation for Starliner’s eventual return to Earth, with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the upcoming weeks.”