Boeing and NASA are making strides in resolving issues from the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft's test flight, according to an independent NASA safety panel. However, significant challenges persist with the spacecraft's thrusters. Paul Hill of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) reported on the investigation's status at a January 30th meeting.
The Starliner's Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission, launched in June with astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, returned uncrewed due to thruster performance concerns. Hill noted "significant progress" in addressing post-flight activities, but emphasized that unresolved thruster problems, including shutdowns during approach and helium leaks, remain. He stated that "the program anticipates the propulsive system anomalies will remain open, pending ongoing test campaigns."
While the ASAP expressed satisfaction with Boeing and NASA's approach, focusing on core issues for a safe return to flight, specifics remain limited. The panel didn't address the timing or configuration of the next Starliner mission, which NASA previously suggested might occur in 2025. Boeing anticipates additional financial charges related to Starliner in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Mark Nappi, former Starliner program manager, now a senior program advisor, suggested revisiting program requirements for improved cost and schedule efficiency in the future. “I think we would go back and revisit those requirements and make them more efficient,” he stated. The investigation continues to unfold, with the next steps crucial for the future of the Starliner program and its role in crewed space missions.