Thruster testing and inspections on the ground lead to meaningful findings prior to Starliner’s return.
With ground testing of a Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster complete and disassembly and inspections concluding, the Starliner team is reviewing data that will aid in future missions and pave the way for NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return to Earth. A landing date for Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT) will be scheduled following the Flight Test Readiness Review planned for later next week, while landing opportunities are available throughout August.
Testing of the RCS thruster at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico resulted in meaningful findings for root cause assessments and to finalize flight rationale in support of a nominal undock and landing.
“I’m very confident we have a good vehicle to bring the crew back with,” Mark Nappi, Starliner program manager and vice president, said during a July 25 news conference.
The Starliner team plans to hot fire 27 of 28 RCS thrusters this weekend while safely docked to the space station. The team wants to verify the performance of thrusters, similar to what would be done during future missions. The team also wants another helium leak data point, which has remained stable since the spacecraft’s arrival to station on June 6. The helium system has been closed for most the time while docked to the station, so no helium is leaking in that configuration.
“Our mission was to get the crew to the ISS and that has been completed. Our mission was to learn from a flight test. Now it’s time to focus on returning the crew safely,” Nappi added.
While the team developed the forward plan, they also continued standard spacecraft work and system checkouts of the docked Starliner. Wilmore, Williams and flight control teams participated in a power-up of the spacecraft today to load updated undock and landing software and download VESTA imagery. They also measured two floor panels within the Starliner Crew Module to support future powered-payload installations.
The crew also participated in undock to landing simulations on-orbit, working in tandem with Boeing’s Avionics and Software Integration Lab (ASIL) in Houston. During future long-duration missions, Starliner crew members will stay proficient by participating in a series of simulations using a tablet-based simulator and physical joystick. Last week, for example, Wilmore used it to successfully test Starliner’s unique backup control capability by flying three back-up training runs.
During the news conference, NASA Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stich shared the crew is in good spirits and enjoying time on station as part of the Expedition 71 crew considering both have been on long-duration missions previously.
Earlier this week, Wilmore helped move station hardware, reconfigure power systems, collect station air samples for analysis and monitor Earth’s weather from the Cupola. He also had ultrasound scans of his veins following an exercise session to understand how the human body adjusts to exercising in space.
Williams worked inside the Tranquility module to install the ArgUS Mission 1 research hardware inside the NanoRacks Bishop airlock where it will soon be robotically placed outside in the vacuum of space for experimentation. She also performed maintenance and science hardware installation tasks.