Stuck Boeing Starliner Completes Thruster Testing on Orbit

The Boeing spacecraft was supposed to remain at the International Space Station for eight days but has seen its stay extended to nearly two months.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 03:32 PM ET

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Edited By: tccjeremy

Boeing’s Starliner over the weekend completed what could be a critical hot fire test. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has experienced a prolonged stay at the International Space Station, extending from 8 days to nearly two months, due to initial issues with its thrusters and helium leaks.
Engineers recently conducted a critical second on-orbit "hot fire" test of the spacecraft's reaction control system (RCS) thrusters, with two NASA astronauts onboard.
The test yielded positive results, confirming that 27 of 28 thrusters are now performing at pre-flight levels and helium leak rates remain stable, with sufficient fuel for the return trip.
A flight test readiness review is expected by the end of the week to select a return date, following which the astronauts will conduct undocking simulations.

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A Boeing spacecraft responsible for returning two NASA astronauts to Earth has contended with an array of issues that have extended its stay on the International Space Station from eight days to nearly two months. Over the weekend, though, engineers conducted a test that could be critical in bringing home NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.

Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner—a semireusable spacecraft under a multibillion-dollar contract with NASA for Commercial Crew rotation missions to the ISS—underwent a hot fire test on Saturday intended to evaluate the capsule’s reaction control system (RCS) thrusters. The vessel is in the midst of its crewed flight test (CFT), which is intended to be its final mission before NASA certifies it for service.