NASA Explains Strange Noises Heard on Boeing Starliner

The spacecraft is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station without crew no earlier than Friday.

Tuesday, September 03, 2024 at 01:12 PM ET

Verified

NASA offered a rational explanation for noises heard by astronaut Butch Wilmore on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

Astronaut Butch Wilmore reported an "eerie" pulsing noise aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which NASA attributed to benign audio feedback from an audio configuration between the ISS and Starliner.
NASA confirmed the sound has ceased and has no technical impact on the crew, Starliner, or station operations.
Despite the noise's resolution, the Starliner astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, will return to Earth on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, as Starliner was deemed too risky for crew return, extending their mission by several months.

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NASA on Monday addressed an eerie noise heard aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft by astronaut Butch Wilmore, who along with astronaut Suni Williams arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) in June during Starliner’s inaugural crew flight test (CFT).

The spacecraft is scheduled to autonomously undock from the ISS no earlier than Friday, making way for a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying NASA’s two-person Crew-9 astronaut rotation mission. Wilmore and Williams will hitch a ride home on that Dragon, rather than Starliner, after NASA determined the beleaguered Boeing spacecraft poses too much risk to return with crew as planned.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.