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Space

Stranded astronaut reports eerie ‘pulsing’ sound coming from troubled Boeing spacecraft — as NASA reveals source of mysterious noise

By
Steve Helling
Published Sep. 2, 2024
Updated Sep. 2, 2024, 11:58 a.m. ET

The beleaguered Boeing Starliner spacecraft has been making alarming noises while docked to the International Space Station, causing one of the astronauts in space to make an urgent report to ground control.

The strange sound was first reported on Saturday morning by Butch Wilmore, who is trapped aboard the ISS with fellow astronaut Suni Williams after the Starliner started experiencing problems following its maiden crewed voyage in June.

The recorded interaction was first posted by a user on a NASA Space Flight forum.

In this photo provided by NASA, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is docked to the Harmony module of the International Space Station on July 3, 2024, seen from a window on the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft docked to an adjacent port.
Butch Wilmore reported hearing a “strange noise” coming from Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft — docked here to the Harmony module of the International Space Station on July 3, 2024. AP

In the recording, Wilmore asked NASA crew in Houston to identify the sound, which was described as both a “pulsing” and a “clanging.”

The Earthside crew member speculated that it sounded “almost like a sonar ping.”

As news of the strange sound began to spread across social media, NASA released a statement, acknowledging the latest developments — but insisting that there was nothing to worry about. 

“The feedback from the speaker was the result of an audio configuration between the space station and the Starliner,” NASA wrote. “The space station audio system is complex, allowing multiple spacecraft and modules to be interconnected, and it is common to experience noise and feedback.” 

“The speaker feedback Wilmore reported has no technical impact on the crew, Starliner, or station operations.” 

Boeing’s Starliner is currently scheduled to undock on Sept. 6 and return to Earth with no crew aboard. Wilmore and Williams will remain behind on the ISS until early next year, when a Space X Crew Dragon capsule will bring them home. 

astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams inspect safety hardware aboard the International Space Station on Aug. 9, 2024.
Astronauts Wilmore (left) and Suni Williams will not being coming back to Earth until at least February. AP

The two astronauts went up to the ISS for what was supposed to be an eight-day voyage and found themselves stranded when they discovered that helium leaks on Boeing’s Starliner — which they had known about prior to launch — were more numerous than previously thought.

Worse, the leaks have caused the thrusters to malfunction.

The Space X mission won’t happen until February, leaving the astronauts trapped aboard the ISS for nearly eight months — more than 30 times their planned stay.