A NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) recently reported hearing a peculiar noise emanating from the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, just days before its scheduled return to Earth on autopilot. The astronaut contacted Mission Control in Houston to inquire about the sound, which was described as a pulsating noise resembling a sonar ping.
During the exchange, the astronaut played a recording of the noise for Mission Control to hear, prompting further investigation into the source of the unusual sound. The recording was shared with Mission Control for analysis, with the astronaut confirming that the noise was coming from a speaker inside the Starliner.
The incident was initially brought to light by Ars Technica, which referenced a recording shared by a meteorologist based in Michigan. The Starliner spacecraft is set to undock from the ISS and attempt an autopilot landing in the New Mexico desert, following a series of setbacks during its mission.
Due to technical issues, NASA made the decision to delay the return of the astronauts on board the Starliner until February, deeming it too risky to bring them back earlier. Originally planned for a weeklong trip in early June, the mission faced challenges such as thruster failures and helium leaks, leading to the postponement of the crew's return.
Boeing, the company behind the Starliner program, had high hopes for the spacecraft's first crewed mission to demonstrate its capabilities and reliability. Despite setbacks, Boeing maintained that the Starliner was safe based on extensive thruster tests conducted both in space and on the ground.
