Stranded ISS Astronaut Reports Mysterious Sound from Faulty Spacecraft

Butch Wilmore, a NASA test pilot currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), has reported an unusual occurrence that adds to the ongoing challenges faced by the Boeing Starliner mission. Wilmore contacted mission control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, to report a "strange noise" emanating from the troubled Starliner spacecraft.

The incident occurred approximately three months after the Starliner pod encountered difficulties during its journey to the ISS in June 2024. Wilmore and his colleague Sunita Williams were originally scheduled for a one-week mission but now face an extended stay of at least eight months due to the spacecraft's issues.

During his communication with mission control, Wilmore described the sound as a "pulsating noise, almost like a sonar ping." He played the sound for NASA officials by holding his phone to the Starliner's speaker, allowing them to hear the mysterious noise firsthand.

The Boeing Starliner mission has been plagued with problems since its launch. The spacecraft made its journey to the ISS with five faulty thrusters and a helium leak, raising serious concerns about its reliability. As a result, NASA has deemed it too risky to use the Starliner for the astronauts' return journey.

Instead, Wilmore and Williams will remain on the ISS until February 2025, when a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to retrieve them. This extended stay means the astronauts will experience over 2,000 orbits around Earth, witnessing approximately 32,000 sunrises and sunsets during their time on the station.

The ISS, which has been continuously occupied for nearly 24 years, provides a unique living and working environment for its inhabitants. With an internal pressurized volume equivalent to that of a Boeing 747, the station offers ample space for scientific research and daily activities. Astronauts must exercise for about two hours each day to counteract the effects of microgravity on their bodies.

While Wilmore and Williams adapt to their extended stay, the Starliner pod is set to return to Earth on autopilot, landing in New Mexico in the coming days. This autonomous return will allow engineers to further investigate the issues that have plagued the spacecraft.

The Starliner's problems represent another setback for Boeing, which has invested $4 billion of US taxpayer money in the project. The aerospace manufacturer is already facing legal action from the US government over issues with its 737 Max planes and recently experienced a serious incident when a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines Boeing aircraft during takeoff.

As Boeing grapples with these challenges, its share price has declined by more than 20% over the past year. The company's CEO, Dave Calhoun, has announced his intention to step down at the end of 2024, signaling a period of transition for the troubled aerospace giant.

"Good recording, thanks Butch. We will pass it onto the team and let you know what we find."

The mysterious noise reported by Wilmore adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing Starliner saga. As NASA and Boeing work to resolve these issues, the incident serves as a reminder of the challenges and unknowns that continue to exist in space exploration, even as the ISS completes its daily journey of traveling the equivalent distance to the Moon and back.