Strange Sounds from Boeing Starliner Puzzle Astronauts on ISS
Even seasoned astronauts were taken aback by the noises that echoed through the vastness of space. On August 31, Butch Wilmore, a crewmember aboard the International Space Station, contacted NASA to report an unusual issue with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. A mysterious pinging sound was emanating from a malfunctioning speaker on the spacecraft, adding to the already existing problems.
Wilmore expressed his confusion to mission control, stating, “There’s a strange noise coming through… I don’t know what’s making it. I’ll let y’all scratch your heads and see if you can figure out what’s going on.”
The conversation, initially shared by meteorologist Rob Dale on the NASA Spaceflight forum and later reported by Ars Technica, revealed a peculiar echoing sound similar to those heard in submarines or sci-fi movies like the Alien franchise. NASA personnel also confirmed hearing the enigmatic pattern through their communication relay.
Former astronaut Chris Hadfield remarked on the situation, stating, “There are several noises I’d prefer not to hear inside my spaceship, including this one that Boeing Starliner is now making,” as he shared a clip of the pings on Twitter.
After a day of speculation, NASA provided an update on social media, confirming that the “pulsing sound… has stopped.” The agency explained that the noises were a result of audio configuration issues between Starliner and the ISS.
NASA reassured that the feedback posed no technical threat to the crew, Starliner, or station operations. Despite the eerie sounds, the uncrewed undocking of Starliner, scheduled for September 6, remained unaffected.
While strange radio signals are not uncommon on the ISS, the challenges faced by Boeing’s spacecraft are unprecedented. After encountering delays and technical difficulties, the Starliner launched with two crew members in June. Issues arose during the journey to the ISS, with malfunctioning thrusters causing setbacks. What was supposed to be an eight-day mission has now turned into a prolonged stay for the astronauts, making them part of NASA’s Crew-9 rotation.
The astronauts are now expected to stay on the ISS until February 2025, engaging in various tasks and experiments. Amidst their scientific endeavors, they may continue to uncover more mysteries and perhaps, more spooky sounds in the depths of space.
