NASA Astronaut Reports Strange Noises from Troubled Starliner Capsule
A NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) made a puzzling discovery on Saturday when he reported hearing a strange noise coming from the Boeing Starliner spacecraft just days before its scheduled return to Earth on autopilot. Butch Wilmore, the astronaut in question, immediately radioed Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to alert them to the unusual sound he had picked up.
On an audio recording of the exchange between Wilmore and Mission Control, the astronaut can be heard holding up a phone to the speakers so that the ground team could hear the noise for themselves. A pulsating sound, emanating at regular intervals, was clearly audible through Wilmore’s device, prompting Mission Control to acknowledge the anomaly.
“Butch, that one came through,” Mission Control responded after the noise was replayed for them. “It was kind of like a pulsating noise, almost like a sonar ping.” The mysterious sound raised concerns about the condition of the Starliner spacecraft and its readiness for the upcoming return journey.
NASA PLANS TO SEND 2 ASTRONAUTS INSTEAD OF 3 TO ISS SO PAIR STRANDED BY TROUBLED BOEING STARLINER CAN RETURN
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, currently docked to the Harmony module of the ISS, has been under scrutiny following a series of setbacks and technical issues. The latest development involving the strange noise reported by Wilmore has added to the growing list of concerns surrounding the spacecraft’s performance and reliability.
“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,” Wilmore informed Mission Control before playing the sound once again for further analysis. The ground team assured Wilmore that they would investigate the source of the noise and provide him with updates as soon as possible.
The peculiar sound captured by Wilmore was initially brought to light by Ars Technica, which referenced a recording shared by meteorologist Rob Dale based in Michigan. The discovery of the mysterious noise has cast a shadow over the upcoming departure of the Starliner spacecraft from the ISS and its autonomous journey back to Earth.
NASA’s Boeing crew flight test astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, have been closely monitoring the situation aboard the ISS in preparation for the Starliner’s return. The astronauts have been conducting routine checks and maintenance tasks to ensure the safety and functionality of the spacecraft before its departure.
Fox News Digital has reached out to both Mission Control and Boeing to inquire about any developments regarding the investigation into the source of the strange noise detected on the Starliner. The space agency and the aerospace company are working together to address the issue and ensure a successful return mission for the spacecraft.
Starliner is scheduled to undock from the ISS in the near future and make its way back to Earth on autopilot, with a planned touchdown in the New Mexico desert. The autonomous return journey is a critical test for the spacecraft and its capabilities to operate independently in space.
NASA made the decision to delay the return of Wilmore and Suni Williams until February due to safety concerns related to the ongoing issues with the Starliner spacecraft. Originally slated for a brief mission in early June, the astronauts have been stranded aboard the ISS as a result of thruster failures and helium leaks that have plagued the spacecraft.
Boeing had pinned its hopes on the successful completion of Starliner’s first crewed mission to demonstrate the spacecraft’s reliability and effectiveness. Despite facing setbacks and challenges along the way, the aerospace company remained confident in the spacecraft’s performance based on extensive testing and evaluations conducted both in space and on the ground.
The Associated Press contributed valuable insights and information to this report, shedding light on the complexities and uncertainties surrounding the future of the Starliner spacecraft. The collaboration between NASA, Boeing, and the ISS crew highlights the importance of teamwork and communication in addressing unexpected challenges in space exploration.
In conclusion, the mysterious noise reported by astronaut Butch Wilmore aboard the ISS has raised concerns about the readiness of the troubled Starliner spacecraft for its upcoming return journey. NASA and Boeing are working diligently to investigate the source of the sound and ensure the safety of the spacecraft and its crew. The successful completion of the Starliner’s return mission will be a significant milestone for the future of commercial space travel and exploration.