The Boeing CST-100 Starliner has received encouraging news regarding its eventual return to Earth. Recent ground tests of the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have kept it in orbit since early June, were successfully completed. Boeing and NASA had been awaiting the completion of these tests to start planning the craft’s journey back.
An update indicated that testing was finished at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, and teams are now focused on analyzing the data. The primary goal of the tests was to evaluate the degradation of the thrusters, in order to understand why some thrusters were disabled during flight and to assess the implications of reinstating them for the upcoming crewed flight.
The term “de-selected” refers to the thrusters that ceased functioning. Prior to and during the Starliner’s launch, there were leaks in the helium tanks that control the thrusters, which led to several delays. Officials noted last month that the Starliner holds 70 hours’ worth of helium, although only seven hours are required for its operation. While it was stated earlier this month that the spacecraft could return immediately if necessary, officials have communicated that they are not yet fully prepared for the return.
In the latest update, NASA and Boeing mentioned that a return flight could happen by the end of this month. However, the timeline has become less specific: “Boeing and NASA engineers will proceed with thruster disassembly and inspections and finalize flight rationale in preparation for readiness reviews for Starliner’s planned return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the coming weeks.”