The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received encouraging news regarding their return to Earth. Testing on the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have kept it in orbit since early June, has recently concluded. Boeing and NASA postponed planning for the vessel’s return until these tests were finished.
Last week, officials announced that ground testing of the Starliner’s Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico had been completed, with teams now focusing on reviewing the collected data. The test aimed to assess thruster degradation, which could help clarify why certain thrusters failed during flight and the potential effects of reactivating those thrusters on the overall Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” indicates that some thrusters ceased functioning. Issues with the helium tanks controlling the thrusters led to leaks both before and during the Starliner launch, causing several delays. During a press conference last month, officials noted that the spacecraft carries 70 hours’ worth of helium, while only seven hours are actually needed. Although earlier this month they suggested the craft could return immediately if required, they stated that they weren’t fully prepared for that eventuality.
In the latest update, NASA and Boeing indicated that a return flight could occur by the end of this month. However, the timeline is now less defined as they proceed with thruster disassembly and inspections, working towards completing the flight rationale needed for the final readiness reviews ahead of Starliner’s planned return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the upcoming weeks.