The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received encouraging news regarding their return to Earth. Recent ground testing of the spacecraft’s thrusters has been completed, which had been a barrier since early June. Boeing and NASA awaited these test results before planning the spacecraft’s return journey.
An update from last week confirmed that the testing of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico is done, and teams are now focused on analyzing the data. The goal of the test was to examine thruster degradation to understand better the malfunctioning thrusters during flight and assess the implications of possibly reactivating them.
Some thrusters were “de-selected,” indicating they failed to operate as intended. This issue arose from leaks in the helium tanks that control the thrusters, causing several delays prior to and during the Starliner launch. Officials explained last month that the spacecraft carries 70 hours’ worth of helium, even though it requires only seven. While they mentioned earlier this month that the spacecraft could return immediately if necessary, they noted they are not fully prepared for that scenario yet.
The latest update from NASA and Boeing indicated that a return flight could be possible by the end of this month. However, the timeline has become less precise. The statement clarified that Boeing and NASA engineers will continue with the disassembly and inspection of the thrusters and work towards finalizing the flight rationale to ensure readiness for Starliner’s planned return to Earth, with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams aboard in the upcoming weeks.