Boeing and NASA Complete Ground Tests on Starliner Thruster

Boeing and NASA engineers have successfully concluded a series of rigorous ground tests on the Starliner spacecraft’s Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. This significant milestone comes after the thruster experienced issues during a flight in early June, prompting an in-depth investigation and testing regime to pinpoint and replicate the problem.

The focus of these tests was to simulate the conditions that the Starliner encountered during its mission, which included a complex sequence of over 1,000 pulses mimicking the launch-to-docking phases of the spacecraft’s journey. The tests extended to scenarios involving undocking and deorbit burns, crucial maneuvers the Starliner must perform flawlessly to ensure the safe return of astronauts.

Dan Niedermaier, Boeing’s lead engineer for the thruster testing, noted that the team pushed the limits of the thruster beyond initial test conditions to simulate the higher thermal conditions experienced during flight. This comprehensive testing strategy has generated a vast amount of data, now amounting to terabytes, which teams are meticulously reviewing.

As the engineers proceed with engine tear-downs and inspections, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich, confirmed that a detailed analysis is underway. The outcome of this analysis will be crucial in scheduling the Agency Flight Test Readiness Review, which will ultimately decide whether the Starliner is ready to bring astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams back to Earth. The return date remains tentative, with NASA and Boeing promising further updates in an upcoming conference.

This phase of testing and review is critical not only for the immediate future of the Crew Flight Test (CFT) but also for the long-term reliability of Boeing’s Starliner as a key component of NASA’s manned space exploration goals.