The Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) in June, has been making some unusual sounds while docked. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore reported hearing a strange noise coming from inside the spacecraft on Saturday. The sound, described as a “sonar ping,” was picked up by the speakers inside Starliner.
As the spacecraft prepares to return to Earth without its astronaut crew, Mission Control is still trying to figure out what’s causing the unusual noise. Boeing’s Starliner has been plagued with issues since arriving at the ISS, including helium leaks and malfunctioning reaction control thrusters. As a result, it will be returning to Earth on September 6 without its human cargo.
The astronauts currently on board the space station will remain until February 2025, when they’ll return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. This mission marks a significant shift for NASA, as it’s opting to launch a new crew on the Dragon rather than sending Wilmore and Williams back on Starliner.
Source: https://www.foxweather.com/earth-space/boeing-starliner-spacecraft-strange-sonar-pings-international-space-station