The epic journey of the Starliner’s inaugural crewed mission is approaching a potential conclusion. On Saturday, July 20, engineering teams from NASA and Boeing completed a crucial hot fire test of the spacecraft’s thrusters. The promising results from this test suggest that the spacecraft’s anticipated voyage to the International Space Station (ISS) with astronauts onboard could be wrapped up shortly.
Since June 6, the Starliner CST-100 spacecraft has been docked at the ISS, following its launch atop an Atlas V rocket. This launch was a long-awaited event, coming after a prior attempt had been postponed due to a helium leak detected before liftoff. This issue was compounded by additional leaks that appeared during and after the initial launch. Furthermore, the docking procedure encountered difficulties, with five thrusters failing during the first attempt to dock with the ISS.
Initially, the spacecraft was scheduled to return to Earth on June 14. However, the Starliner crew has remained aboard the ISS significantly longer than originally planned. NASA and Boeing officials have reassured the public that the Starliner is fully capable of safely returning the astronauts whenever needed. They have explained that the extended mission period has been used to conduct valuable tests that can only be performed in space. Consequently, NASA emphasizes that the astronauts are not stranded but are instead making the most of their extended stay.
On Tuesday, NASA released a statement detailing that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who arrived at the ISS aboard the Starliner, conducted a thorough evaluation of the spacecraft’s thrusters. They tested 27 out of the 28 thrusters individually to assess their performance and check for any helium leaks. Preliminary results from these tests were promising and indicated that the spacecraft is likely ready for the crew’s eventual return.
In addition to the thruster tests, Wilmore and Williams have been performing other assessments, including checks on the spacecraft’s water systems and internal pressure. The data collected from these tests is currently under review. Once the analysis is complete, NASA plans to announce a target date for the astronauts’ return.
Boeing has also indicated that a flight test readiness review is scheduled for later this week. The astronauts will participate in two undocking procedure simulations as part of their return journey preparations.
The Starliner, which is part of a $4.3 billion contract between Boeing and NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, has experienced a tumultuous development process. The spacecraft’s journey has marked numerous delays, cost overruns, and technical challenges. The situation became so problematic that NASA Administrator Bill Nelson publicly criticized Boeing in a 2022 interview, highlighting the company’s struggles and its significant lag behind its competitor, SpaceX, in developing a reusable crew capsule.
