Two American astronauts may have more than just technical issues to worry about as they remain stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Astronaut Butch Wilmore reported hearing an unusual “pulsating noise” coming from the Boeing Starliner capsule, the very craft set to bring him and fellow astronaut Suni Williams back to Earth in the coming days. The incident was reported to NASA’s Mission Control, where Wilmore described the sound as occurring at regular intervals, likening it to a sonar ping.
During the conversation with Mission Control, Wilmore played a recording of the sound through his phone for the team on the ground to hear. The faint, pulsating noise was picked up, but its source remains a mystery. “It was kind of like a pulsating noise, almost like a sonar ping,” one NASA technician remarked after hearing the recording. Despite the intrigue, NASA has yet to comment on whether they’ve identified the cause of the noise.
This strange development comes after weeks of technical setbacks for Wilmore and Williams, who have been marooned aboard the ISS due to a series of malfunctions with the Starliner. Among the issues: helium leaks that delayed their return to Earth, forcing NASA to strike a deal with SpaceX to bring the astronauts home.
However, their return journey on a SpaceX craft won’t happen until February, meaning the duo is now set for an extended stay in space.
The delay is a significant blow for Boeing’s Starliner program, which had hoped to demonstrate the reliability of its spacecraft. But technical issues, years of delays, and increased competition from SpaceX have tarnished the company’s reputation. The latest incident—the prolonged stranding of Wilmore and Williams—has only added to the growing concerns about Boeing’s ability to deliver safe, reliable spacecraft.
Boeing has defended its Starliner, noting that recent thruster tests showed the spacecraft was in good working condition before its troubles in orbit.
However, the mounting problems, coupled with this mysterious noise, have raised questions about the safety of the mission. Boeing’s Starliner was intended to be a viable competitor to SpaceX in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, but it has struggled to match the success of Elon Musk’s company.
Officials at NASA have downplayed the situation, stressing that the astronauts are not technically stranded and that the team is working through their standard mission management processes. “We are letting the data drive our decision-making,” said Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, in a statement. He emphasized that the team is managing the helium leaks and thruster issues cautiously.
While the astronauts remain safe for now, the strange noise adds an eerie layer to an already stressful situation. For Wilmore and Williams, their extended stay in space just got a little more unsettling.
Whether the mystery sound is a minor glitch or a signal of something more serious, the situation will continue to evolve as NASA investigates further. For now, all eyes are on the Starliner and the mission to bring these astronauts home safely.
