NASA has solved the mystery surrounding a strange noise heard from Boeing’s Starliner aircraft, used for the crewed mission that launched on June 5, 2024. The noise, described as a “pulsating” sound similar to a sonar ping, was attributed to feedback from a speaker inside the spacecraft. NASA said the sound stemmed from an audio setup issue between Starliner and the International Space Station (ISS). The space agency said the feedback did not pose any risk to the spacecraft’s mission.
Details of the incident
The noise problem came to attention when astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore, aboard Starliner, reported hearing an unusual sound while communicating with mission control. The situation was taken seriously, and NASA immediately investigated the matter. In a statement, the agency explained that the speaker feedback was common and had no technical impact on the spacecraft or the ongoing mission.
Former astronaut Chris Hadfield commented on the situation on X (formerly Twitter), expressing that such sounds are among those he would rather avoid in space. Despite concerns, the feedback stopped, and NASA confirmed that the spacecraft’s autonomous return to Earth is proceeding as planned.
Return and Mission Status
The Starliner mission, originally scheduled to last about ten days, encountered delays due to problems with the propulsion system. As a result, NASA decided that astronauts Wilmore and Sunita Williams would return to Earth on a SpaceX Dragon capsule in February 2025, rather than on Starliner.
The Boeing Starliner is scheduled to dock from the ISS no earlier than 6:04 p.m. ET on September 6, 2024 (3:34 a.m. Indiana time). The unmanned capsule is expected to land at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico, marking the end of its troubled mission.
