NASA and Boeing are working to prepare for a review this week of the readiness of Boeing’s Starliner space capsule for a safe return to Earth. The spacecraft has experienced multiple issues on its debut crewed flight to the International Space Station, which launched on June 5. Following a test firing of thrusters on the docked Starliner capsule Saturday and weeks of ground-based testing to identify problems with the small propulsion devices that help the spacecraft navigate and maneuver, mission officials say they are ready to submit the collected data for review.
They expressed optimism that the spaceship would be safe to transport NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore back to Earth. My job is to provide a safe vehicle for the crew’s return,” said Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program. “I’m very confident we have a good vehicle to bring the crew back with.”
NASA reports detailed that five of 28 maneuvering thrusters failed to perform as expected during Starliner’s docking at the space station on June 6.
Engineers also identified five small helium leaks, some of which had been detected before the spacecraft launched. The issues have led to a series of delays for Starliner’s return flight.
Nasa assesses Starliner’s return readiness
Ground-based tests at NASA’s White Sands Testing Facility in New Mexico have attempted to recreate the conditions that led to the thruster failures. Four failed units have been brought back online and appear to be operating within the expected parameters, but one of the thrusters has been shut down for the remainder of the mission. If the capsule is given a green light following the agency flight readiness review process, Starliner could be set for a return flight in August.
If the spacecraft is deemed unsafe to return Williams and Wilmore, NASA Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich noted backup contingencies, thanks to SpaceX’s Dragon Crew Capsule program. Both Stich and Nappi have previously noted that Starliner has been approved for use as an emergency return vehicle should an unforeseen event at the space station lead to the need for an evacuation. The primary option is for Williams and Wilmore to return to the Boeing capsule.
Utah’s Dugway Proving Ground was considered a primary return location at the beginning of Starliner’s mission. However, it’s unclear whether the west desert location will still be at the top of the list for the capsule’s return. According to NASA, other possible landing sites include two targets in the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, and Willcox, Arizona.
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