A Nasa astronaut has reported a peculiar "pulsating noise" emanating from the Boeing Starliner spacecraft docked at the International Space Station.
The strange sound, identified by astronaut Butch Wilmore and described by officials on Earth as "almost like a sonar ping", was heard through a speaker inside the Starliner.
Wilmore radioed Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston on Saturday to inquire about the noise.
The American astronaut said: "I've got a question about Starliner.
"There's a strange noise coming through the speaker and I didn't know if you can connect into the Starliner ... I don't know what's making it."
After failing to hear the sound on a first attempt, Wilmore held up a phone to the speakers, allowing the team on Earth to hear the rhythmic pulsing sound.
"Butch, that one came through," Mission Control confirmed, "It was kind of like a pulsating noise, almost like a sonar ping."
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying two astronauts aboard Boeing's Starliner-1 Crew Flight Test (CFT), is launched on a mission to the International Space Station
Reuters
The source of the mysterious sound remains unidentified, leaving both astronauts and crews on the ground puzzled.
However, Mission Control assured Wilmore they would pass the recording along for further analysis.
"Good recording, thanks Butch," Mission Control replied. "We will pass it onto the team and let you know what we find."
Wilmore offered to play the sound again, saying, "I'll do it one more time, and I'll let y'all scratch your heads and see if you can figure out what's going on."
The incident has sparked concern among space enthusiasts and experts alike.
Renowned astronaut Chris Hadfield expressed his unease on social media, stating: "There are several noises I'd prefer not to hear inside my spaceship, including this one that Boeing Starliner is now making."
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Nasa has not yet commented on whether the mysterious pulsating noise could affect the Starliner's unmanned return.
The Starliner is scheduled to undock from the ISS on September 6 with Nasa announcing that "pending weather and operational readiness," the spacecraft will touch down after midnight at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico.
The extended stay of astronauts Wilmore and fellow astronaut Suni Williams on the space station until February 2025 is a result of ongoing issues with the Starliner spacecraft. Initially slated for a weeklong trip in early June, their mission has been plagued by technical problems.
Nasa deemed it too risky to bring the astronauts back using the troubled Starliner which has suffered from thruster failures and helium leaks.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams walk at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, ahead of Boeing's Starliner-1 Crew Flight Test
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Boeing had hoped Starliner's first crewed mission would revitalise the programme after years of delays and escalating costs.
Despite the company's assurances of Starliner's safety, based on recent thruster tests, the decision was made to keep Wilmore and Williams in orbit.
The astronauts are now expected to return to Earth aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule early next year.
