The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received positive news regarding their return to Earth. Recent completion of ground tests on the spacecraft’s thrusters, which have been inactive since early June, has paved the way for planning the return trip. Boeing and NASA had been awaiting these test results before initiating the next steps.
An update shared last week reported, “Ground testing of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico is now complete, and teams will focus on data reviews.” The purpose of these tests was to assess thruster performance to determine why some thrusters were deactivated during flight and what effects resuming their use might have on the upcoming Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” refers to thrusters that malfunctioned; prior to and during the Starliner launch, helium tanks responsible for controlling these thrusters experienced leaks, causing multiple delays. Officials stated last month that while the spacecraft has 70 hours of helium available, it only requires seven for its control systems. Although they indicated that the Starliner could technically return immediately if necessary, they emphasized that they are not yet fully prepared for its return.
In the latest update from NASA and Boeing, the possibility of a return flight was suggested for the end of this month, though the timeframe has since become less specific. The statement then noted, “Boeing and NASA engineers will move forward with thruster disassembly and inspections, while finalizing the flight rationale to support readiness reviews for Starliner’s planned return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the forthcoming weeks.”