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NASA identifies mysterious noise from Boeing Starliner spacecraft as feedback from a speaker.
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The noise poses no risk to the spacecraft or its operations, and the autonomous return to Earth remains on track.
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The Boeing Starliner is set to undock from the International Space Station and land uncrewed in New Mexico.
NASA has solved the mystery of a strange noise emanating from the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, reassuring that it does not impact the capsule’s mission. The noise, described as a “pulsing noise” or “sonar ping,” was caused by an audio configuration issue between the space station and the Starliner.
The issue was brought to light when astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore reported hearing the noise, sparking concern among space enthusiasts. However, NASA quickly addressed the issue, stating that such feedback is common and poses no risk to the spacecraft or its operations.
Despite initial concerns, the Boeing Starliner’s return to Earth remains on track. The spacecraft is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station as early as Friday and land uncrewed at the White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico.
The Starliner’s mission has been extended multiple times due to technical issues, including a problem with the capsule’s thruster system. Originally intended to last 10 days, the mission will now conclude with an uncrewed landing. Astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams will return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule in February 2025.
