In an unexpected turn of events aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Nasa astronaut Butch Wilmore reported hearing mysterious "sonar-like" noises emanating from the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
This peculiar occurrence comes just days before the troubled capsule is scheduled to undock and return to Earth without a crew on September 6, 2024.
Wilmore, who along with fellow astronaut Sunita Williams has been stranded on the ISS due to Starliner's technical issues, contacted Nasa's Mission Control in Houston to report the strange sounds.
In a recorded conversation, Wilmore described the noise as a repetitive, pulsating sound reminiscent of submarine sonar or tapping from outside the spacecraft.
The astronaut held up a microphone to the Starliner's internal speaker, allowing ground control to hear the bizarre noise. Mission Control confirmed the sound, describing it as "a kind of pulsing noise, almost like a sonar ping". The origin of these sounds remains a mystery, puzzling both the crew and Nasa engineers.
This latest development adds another layer of intrigue to the already complicated Starliner mission. Originally planned for a brief eight-day stay, Wilmore and Williams have been aboard the ISS for nearly three months due to various technical problems with the spacecraft, including thruster failures and helium leaks.
As Nasa prepares for Starliner's unmanned return, the agency has decided to bring Wilmore and Williams back to Earth in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. This decision underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Boeing's space program.
The unexplained noises have sparked widespread speculation online, with some social media users humorously suggesting supernatural explanations or drawing parallels to science fiction scenarios.
However, experts propose more mundane possibilities, such as electromagnetic interference or audio system feedback.
As the countdown to Starliner's departure continues, Nasa engineers are working to identify the source of these mysterious sounds. The incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of space exploration and the complex challenges that arise in the harsh environment beyond Earth's atmosphere.
The Starliner's return flight, now tinged with an air of mystery, will be closely monitored by space enthusiasts and scientists alike, as they await further explanations for this puzzling acoustic phenomenon.
