The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew has received encouraging news regarding their eventual return to Earth. Recent ground testing of the spacecraft’s thrusters has concluded, which has been necessary to initiate plans for the craft’s return after it has remained in orbit since early June.
An update from last week indicated, “Ground testing of a Starliner Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico is complete, and teams are now focusing on data reviews.” The purpose of the tests was to analyze the degradation of the thrusters to understand why some were not operational during flight and to assess the potential effects of reinstating them on the upcoming Crew Flight Test.
The term “de-selected” refers to those thrusters that ceased functioning. Prior to and during the Starliner launch, the helium tanks that control the thrusters faced leaks, contributing to multiple mission delays. Officials stated last month that the spacecraft possesses 70 hours’ worth of helium, despite needing only seven. While they mentioned earlier this month that the craft could return at any time if necessary, they also clarified that they are not fully prepared for that return just yet.
In the latest update, NASA and Boeing suggested that a return flight might occur toward the end of the month. However, the timeline remains unclear: “Boeing and NASA engineers will proceed with thruster disassembly and inspections, and continue finalizing flight reasoning to support readiness reviews for Starliner’s upcoming return to Earth with commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams in the coming weeks.”