NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have reported experiencing unusual “strange noises” emanating from their malfunctioning Starliner capsule. The astronauts, currently stationed on the International Space Station (ISS), raised concerns about a persistent pulsing sound resembling a sonar ping, which was first noted on August 1, 2024. The sound was captured and shared by meteorologist Rob Dale, who documented the noises that have since become a topic of investigation.
According to Ars Technica, the peculiar sound was relayed to Mission Control via a recording where Wilmore held his phone up to capture the noise. The steady, pulsing sound was audible in the recording, prompting a response from Mission Control. They acknowledged hearing the noise, describing it as “kind of like a pulsating noise, almost like a sonar ping.”
Despite the initial confusion surrounding the noise, Wilmore offered to play the sound again to aid in the investigation, ensuring Mission Control could thoroughly examine the issue. The team has assured the astronauts that the sound will be investigated further, though no additional details have been provided to the media.
This latest incident adds to the list of challenges facing the Starliner program, which has already encountered significant issues such as helium leaks and thruster malfunctions. The discovery of these unusual noises comes amid ongoing difficulties with Boeing’s Starliner crewed flights.
The mission, initially planned for one week, has been extended due to the complications with the Starliner capsule. NASA has determined that it is too risky to return the astronauts in the current capsule, and they are now scheduled to return in a SpaceX capsule next February. In the meantime, the empty Starliner capsule is set to undock in early September and attempt a solo return, aiming to land in the New Mexico desert.
