The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received encouraging news regarding their return to Earth. Recent ground testing of the spacecraft’s thrusters, which has kept it in orbit since early June, has been successfully completed. Boeing and NASA were awaiting these results to start planning for the spacecraft’s homeward journey.
An update released last week confirmed that the testing of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico is finished, and teams are now analyzing the data. The goal of the tests was to investigate thruster performance issues to better understand why some thrusters were not operational during the flight and determine the implications of potentially reintegrating them into service.
The term “de-selected” refers to certain thrusters that failed to function. Issues with the helium tanks, which control the thrusters, resulted in leaks during and before the Starliner launch, causing multiple delays. Officials previously indicated that the spacecraft has 70 hours’ worth of helium onboard, significantly more than the seven hours it requires. Although they noted earlier this month that the Starliner could return home immediately if necessary, they expressed that preparations were not fully complete.
In their latest update, NASA and Boeing indicated that a return flight might occur by the end of this month. However, the timeline is now less specific, with the teams focusing on disassembling and inspecting the thrusters, and finalizing plans in preparation for readiness reviews for the Starliner’s anticipated return to Earth. Commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams are expected to be aboard during this mission.