Space & Astronomy

NASA offers explanation for 'strange noises' coming from Starliner

By T.K. Randall
September 4, 2024

Image: International Space Station
Credit: (PD) NASA When astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams launched aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on its debut crewed mission back in June, they had expected to remain aboard the International Space Station for around 8 days before returning to Earth.

As things stand, however, a plethora of technical issues with the vehicle has prevented them from leaving and it doesn't look as though they will be getting home anytime soon.

As if this wasn't bad enough, Wilmore reported during the weekend that he could hear "strange noises" coming from the Starliner capsule that remains docked at the station.

"I don't know what's making it," he said.

The sounds, described by NASA as a "pulsing noise, almost like a sonar ping," went on to leave experts scratching their heads and prompted other astronauts to offer their own thoughts.

Former astronaut Chris Hadfield, who famously played guitar during his extensive time aboard the orbital outpost, suggested that the sound was particularly disconcerting."There are several noises I'd prefer not to hear inside my spaceship, including this one that Starliner is now making," he wrote on social media.

As it turns out, however, the sound is actually nothing to worry about.

"A pulsing sound from a speaker in Boeing's Starliner spacecraft heard by NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore aboard the International Space Station has stopped," NASA later explained.

"The feedback from the speaker was the result of an audio configuration between the space station and Starliner. It is common to experience noise and feedback"

While this particular mystery has been put to bed, it still doesn't help Wilmore and Williams who remain stranded aboard the space station for the foreseeable future.

As things stand, their next opportunity to get home will be on a SpaceX capsule in February 2025.

Source: Sky News

Tags: Starliner, ISS