Puzzling Sounds Emanate from Starliner: NASA Provides Reassurance
NASA has shed light on a mysterious pulsating sound that perplexed astronaut Butch Wilmore aboard the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, docked at the International Space Station. The incident, which raised concerns just days before the spacecraft’s scheduled return to Earth, has now been resolved, according to a statement from the space agency released on Monday.
Astronaut Reports Unusual Noise to Mission Control
The unsettling noise was first reported by Wilmore on Saturday, prompting immediate attention from Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The timing of the incident was critical, as the spacecraft was set to undock and return on autopilot to Earth within the week.
NASA responded promptly, confirming via social media that the pulsing sound had ceased. The agency explained that the noise originated from a speaker within the Starliner, resulting from an audio configuration issue between the space station and the spacecraft.
“The space station audio system is complex, allowing multiple spacecraft and modules to be interconnected, and it is common to experience noise and feedback,” NASA stated.
“The space station audio system is complex, allowing multiple spacecraft and modules to be interconnected, and it is common to experience noise and feedback,” NASA stated. “The crew is asked to contact mission control when they hear sounds originating in the comm system. The speaker feedback Wilmore reported has no technical impact on the crew, Starliner, or station operations, including Starliner’s uncrewed undocking from the station no earlier than Friday, Sept. 6.”
Starliner’s Return Mission Under Scrutiny
The noise discovery comes as Starliner, which has faced numerous challenges, prepares for its critical return to Earth. Scheduled to land in the New Mexico desert, the spacecraft will be uncrewed, operating entirely on autopilot during its descent.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, currently aboard the ISS, have been in space since June and were initially expected to stay for just a week. However, complications with the Starliner have extended their mission until February. NASA has since determined that bringing the astronauts back to Earth aboard Starliner would be too risky, opting instead to return them in a SpaceX capsule.
Persistent Issues Plague Boeing’s Starliner Program
Boeing’s Starliner program has been fraught with setbacks, with the latest being thruster failures and helium leaks. The current mission was intended to be Starliner’s first crewed flight, a crucial step in reviving Boeing’s troubled spacecraft program after years of delays and escalating costs. Despite the ongoing issues, Boeing has maintained confidence in the spacecraft’s safety, citing successful thruster tests both in space and on the ground.
As the Starliner prepares for its upcoming uncrewed return, NASA and Boeing continue to monitor the spacecraft closely, determined to overcome the challenges that have plagued the mission.
