NASA identifies ‘strange noise’ that terrified astronaut.
On August 31, NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore, orbiting Earth in the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, reported a baffling “strange noise” to Mission Control.
But let’s rewind a bit: why is Wilmore on the ISS in the first place?
An astronaut’s prolonged stay exposed.
Wilmore, who arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) in June, was initially set to return much sooner.
Initially, Butch Wilmore and his fellow astronaut Suni Williams were scheduled for a much shorter stay.
They were part of the Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test, aiming to demonstrate the spacecraft’s capabilities.
However, as they approached the ISS on June 6, things took a turn.
Technical glitches strike.
Due to technical difficulties with the Starliner capsule, his stay in space was extended until February 2025.
The spacecraft experienced helium leaks and issues with its reaction control thrusters.
These technical glitches meant that returning with the Starliner wasn’t an option.
Instead, Wilmore and Williams would stay aboard the ISS until February 2025, returning with SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission.
History of Starliner’s troubles explained.
The Starliner’s malfunctions were just another chapter in its troubled history.
Initially developed to reduce reliance on Russian Soyuz capsules, Boeing’s Starliner faced multiple delays and technical setbacks.
From failed test flights to software glitches, it’s been a rocky road for the spacecraft.
The spacecraft finally managed to reach the ISS this June, but not without further complications.
But, when the noise disrupted his already prolonged mission, it was a serious concern.
NASA jumps into action.
Mission Control at Johnson Space Center in Houston received Wilmore’s report and immediately began to investigate.
An audio recording captured Wilmore’s request to connect directly with the Starliner’s systems to trace the sound’s origin.
But Mission Control couldn’t listen in directly; they had to rely on the astronaut’s descriptions.
Unexpected sound explained.
The unexpected sound was described as a “pulsing noise, almost like a sonar ping.”
The noise wasn’t just a minor annoyance; in the vacuum of space, strange sounds can indicate bigger problems.
Back on Earth, engineers worked around the clock to solve the puzzle.
The stakes were high: if something was wrong with the spacecraft, it could jeopardize the mission and the safety of the crew.
NASA finally solves the mystery.
NASA’s Commercial Crew program finally shed some light on the mystery.
On September 2, NASA took to Twitter to provide an update.
“The pulsing sound from a speaker in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft heard by NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore aboard the International Space Station has stopped,” they announced.
The statement explained that the noise was due to a minor audio configuration issue between the ISS and Starliner.
The complex audio systems allow multiple spacecraft and modules to interconnect, leading to occasional feedback.
NASA and Boeing have worked tirelessly to rectify these issues, but the noise incident was yet another hiccup.
The Starliner, despite its bumps along the way, continues its journey back to Earth.
And while this mystery might be solved, one thing is for sure: space will always keep us guessing.