Boeing is making progress in identifying the issues with its astronaut capsule that is currently in orbit after completing testing on a spare thruster on Earth. The Starliner capsule has been stationed at the International Space Station since June 6, but delays in its return occurred due to problems with thrusters and helium leaks. NASA and Boeing are still working on setting a return date for the NASA test pilots aboard, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Engineers will need to analyze the data from the thruster testing before the Starliner is approved for the journey back to Earth. NASA’s commercial crew program manager, Steve Stich, mentioned the valuable data collected during the testing that could enhance their understanding of the capsule’s performance in flight. The testing successfully recreated the thruster conditions during different phases of the mission, from docking at the space station to descent. This mission marks the Starliner’s inaugural test flight with a crew on board.
