NASA’s Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore gave big news, reported ‘strange sounds’ coming from the destroyed Starliner
NASA: As of August 1, 2024, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have expressed concerns over a string of “strange noises” originating from the malfunctioning Starliner spacecraft. The senior astronauts now living on the International Space Station (ISS) are apparently hearing a “pulsing noise, almost like a sonar ping,” according to the video, which was first released by meteorologist Rob Dale. The astronauts have a long way to go before returning to Earth.
Starliner is making “strange noises,” according to NASA astronauts
The “bizarre sound” was first reported by Ars Technica, which used a clip that Michigan-based meteorologist Rob Dale had first made and released. In order for Mission Control to hear the sound Wilmore is referring to, he puts his phone up to the speakers in the tape. It is evident that Wilmore’s phone is producing a continuous, pulsating sound that is coming out in regular beats.
Mission Control replies, “Butch, that one came through,” in response to Wilmore’s noise. They said, “It sounded almost like a sonar ping—kind of like a pulsating noise.”
Wilmore promised to try again, pointing out that the noise was not very obvious the first time, so the crew should listen closely and figure out what’s wrong. The NASA astronaut who is trapped in space is heard stating, “I’ll do it one more time and let you all scratch your heads and see if you can figure out what’s going on.”
Something significant or just an anomaly in space?
The Mission Control crew has not yet answered questions from the press. They do, however, sound assuring the astronauts on the audio that the tape would be looked into and that they will be notified of the results. Wilmore explains that the Starliner’s internal speaker is the source of the sound.
According to Ars Technica, astronauts often report hearing strange noises coming from spacecraft. The sounds this weekend that resemble sonar are probably not very complex, and Wilmore didn’t seem really concerned about it. However, these strange sounds are noteworthy, particularly in light of the difficulties Boeing and NASA have had with the Starliner’s crewed flights due to significant helium leaks and thruster issues.
When does NASA intend to resume operations with astronauts?
Unexpectedly, a mission that was supposed to last just one week has extended to many months. NASA decided on Saturday that it would be too risky to return two men to Earth in Boeing’s new capsule; instead, they would have to wait until SpaceX returns passengers to Earth in 2019. It is currently planned for Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return on a SpaceX spacecraft in February.
Their empty Starliner capsule, meanwhile, is scheduled to undock at the beginning of September in an attempt to return on its own, with a target landing in the New Mexico desert.
