The Boeing CST-100 Starliner team has received encouraging news regarding the spacecraft’s eventual return to Earth. The recent completion of ground testing for the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have kept it in orbit since early June, has paved the way for Boeing and NASA to commence plans for its homecoming.
An update confirmed that the testing of the Starliner’s Reaction Control System thruster at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico is finished. Teams are now focused on analyzing the data collected during these tests to understand the reasons behind the in-flight failure of some thrusters and the potential implications of reactivating those thrusters for the upcoming Crew Flight Test.
Officials reported that the term “de-selected” refers to thrusters that ceased functioning. Prior to and during the Starliner’s launch, issues arose with leaking helium tanks, causing multiple delays. While the spacecraft is equipped with 70 hours’ worth of helium, it only requires seven hours for its operations. Although officials indicated earlier this month that the Starliner could return immediately if necessary, they also mentioned that they are not yet fully prepared for that scenario.
In the latest update, NASA and Boeing suggested that a return flight could be scheduled for the end of this month. However, this timeframe has now become less specific. Boeing and NASA engineers will move forward with the disassembly and inspection of the thrusters and work on finalizing the operational rationale needed for readiness reviews, as they prepare for the Starliner’s nominal return to Earth with crew members Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams in the coming weeks.