Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which is intended to transport astronauts to space, recently underwent a crucial test of its reaction control system (RCS) thrusters in space. The test aims to evaluate the readiness of the spacecraft for landing NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams sometime in August, pending a wider agency review.

NASA officials stated in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) that the results of the test firings will be evaluated over the next few days while further studies are conducted in preparation for the agency's readiness review. This review will play a critical role in determining the spacecraft's readiness for future missions, including Starliner-1, which is scheduled for a six-month stay on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025.

The debut astronaut docking of Starliner with the ISS on June 6 encountered complications due to helium leaks and issues with five thrusters. Although these problems were eventually resolved, engineers are currently trying to understand the root cause in order to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.

NASA has announced a delay in the Starliner-1 mission, originally expected to take place in early winter. The mission has been rescheduled for August 2025 to allow more time for necessary modifications based on the findings from the recent test. The specifics of these modifications have not yet been identified by NASA and Boeing officials.

Meanwhile, the current mission, known as Crew Flight Test (CFT), has been extended beyond its initial duration of 10 days. The CFT has now surpassed 50 days in space, with the astronauts relying on a reserve of supplies on the ISS for unexpected circumstances. Both NASA and Boeing emphasized the developmental nature of the mission, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding its timeline.

During the recent RCS test, each thruster was tested in brief bursts, ranging up to 1.2 seconds, to confirm their performance. Results showed peak thrust ranging from 97 percent to 102 percent for the tested thrusters while the helium system remained stable.

A notable detail is that Wilmore and Williams, both former U.S. Navy test pilots with extensive experience in developmental aerospace programs, reported their observations from inside Starliner during the test. It is worth noting that one thruster had been removed from testing weeks prior, as engineers deemed it unable to properly fire for the spacecraft's return to Earth.

As NASA and Boeing continue to analyze the data from the recent test, they aim to address the issues faced by Starliner and ensure the spacecraft's readiness for future missions. The completion of the upcoming agency readiness review will be a key milestone in determining the next steps for this important space program.