NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore recently faced an unexpected situation aboard the Boeing Starliner, currently docked at the International Space Station (ISS). On Saturday, he detected a strange noise coming from one of the spacecraft’s speakers. Uncertain about the origin of the noise, Wilmore reached out to Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to report the issue. “I have an inquiry regarding Starliner,” he remarked.
“I’m hearing an unusual noise from the speaker… I can’t determine what’s causing it.” He was uncertain whether the sound originated from the ISS, the spacecraft itself, or elsewhere.
In response, Mission Control quickly set up a direct audio link to further investigate the noise coming from the Starliner. Wilmore, floating inside the spacecraft, utilized a microphone to capture the sound and transmit it to the ground team. The control team described the noise as a “pulsating sound, similar to a sonar signal.” Wilmore captured the sound for further examination, allowing the flight controllers to handle the situation.
Investigation and Resolution
NASA has since identified and resolved the source of the noise, tracing the pulsating feedback back to an audio connection between the ISS and the Starliner. According to NASA, such sounds and feedback are not uncommon due to the intricate audio systems on the space station, which link various spacecraft and modules.
Despite the unusual occurrence, NASA reassured that there was no danger to the crew, the ISS, or the Starliner.
This incident adds to the challenges faced by Boeing’s Starliner, which has encountered several technical issues during its inaugural crewed mission. Previous complications included a significant helium leak and thruster malfunctions, leading to delays in the astronauts’ return to Earth.
