Which propulsion system component showed issues while the Starliner was attached to the ISS?
Answer
Reaction control system (RCS) thrusters
During the period the Starliner capsule remained docked to the ISS, technical issues surfaced concerning the propulsion system. The specific components reported to have problems were the reaction control system (RCS) thrusters. These thrusters are critically important as they are responsible for vital maneuvers, including docking operations and, most importantly in the context of reentry, setting the capsule onto the precise deorbit trajectory required for a safe return to Earth. The anomalies observed in these thrusters while in space necessitated a deeper, on-the-ground analysis before the spacecraft could be cleared for a crewed return, leading to the astronauts remaining on the ISS longer.
Related Questions
What was the official designation for the Starliner capsule that returned uncrewed for the Crew Flight Test?Why did NASA decide to return the Starliner without astronauts Wilmore and Williams aboard?Which propulsion system component showed issues while the Starliner was attached to the ISS?Where were Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams located while the Starliner *Calypso* was returning to Earth?What critical design capability did the uncrewed Starliner return successfully demonstrate?What was the main objective for certifying the Boeing Starliner via the Crew Flight Test (CFT)?What two distinct performance tests did the CFT sequence separate by returning *Calypso* uncrewed?How did the extended ISS stay for Wilmore and Williams contrast with standard capsule return procedures?What did the necessity of returning the Starliner empty suggest about its readiness for nominal crewed departure?What role did the ISS play when the Starliner vehicle required extended analysis time?