September 2nd 2024.
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has been facing a string of problems for months, causing a delay in the return of two astronauts who were stranded in space for longer than expected. However, the latest issue has left many puzzled as a strange 'sonar-like' noise has been recorded coming from the spacecraft while it is docked to the International Space Station. This noise has been reported by NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore, who expressed his confusion to Mission Control in Houston, stating that he was unsure of its cause.
In his communication with Mission Control, Wilmore described the noise as a repetitive pulsing that he couldn't identify. He even jokingly gave the team a chance to figure out the source, saying, "I'll do it one more time, and I'll let y'all scratch your heads and see if you can figure out what's going on." Although Mission Control acknowledged the noise, they were unable to determine its source and promised to investigate further.
Retired astronaut and former commander of the ISS, Chris Hadfield, also shared audio of the strange noise and humorously added, "There are several noises I'd prefer not to hear inside my spaceship, including this one that @Boeing Starliner is now making." The sound was initially compared to the sonar pings of a submarine, but it was later clarified that this was not possible as sound waves cannot travel in the vacuum of space. This led to many online speculations, with some suggesting the possibility of space ghosts or aliens.
Joking aside, it is more likely that there is a technical explanation for the noise, similar to a strange knocking noise that was heard during China's first crewed spaceflight in 2003. One theory is that the noise could be caused by interference with the speaker, possibly from other systems on the ISS. Whatever the cause may be, it adds to the ongoing challenges faced by the Starliner spacecraft and its manufacturer, Boeing.
This incident comes after NASA announced that they had to cut two female astronauts from the next crew to fly to the ISS, in order to make room for the return trip of Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore. The two astronauts were due to return to Earth in February via SpaceX's Dragon capsule, after facing technical issues during their journey to the ISS. NASA's decision to prioritize their return meant that astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson were bumped from the upcoming mission, though they have been given the opportunity to fly on future missions.
This shift in crew assignments is a result of NASA's efforts to rely on private businesses for space travel, rather than solely depending on the Russian space program. However, it has been a bumpy road for Boeing's Starliner, with this latest noise issue adding to the list of challenges they have faced. The Starliner is expected to return to Earth soon, aiming for a touchdown in the New Mexico desert. Hopefully, this will mark a successful end to its current mission, despite the unexpected noise disturbance.
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