NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore report 'eerie noises' emitting from faulty Starliner capsule

 NASA's Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore

As NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore remain on the International Space Station due to an extended stay following issues with Boeing's Starliner capsule, a recent report has revealed that they have flagged strange noises coming from the now-empty Starliner.

Citing a recording first shared by meteorologist Rob Dale, Ars Technica reported that the astronauts are encountering a "pulsing noise, almost like a sonar ping," emanating from the Starliner.

In the recording, astronaut Butch Wilmore can be heard holding his phone up to the speakers so that Mission Control could listen to the unusual noise. The sound, described as a steady, pulsing noise, was clearly audible in regular beats.

Mission Control acknowledged the sound, commenting that it resembled a "pulsating noise, almost like a sonar ping." Wilmore, noting that the noise wasn’t clear on the first attempt, indicated he would try again, saying he would let the team "scratch their heads" to figure out the cause

Ars Technica noted that it’s not uncommon for astronauts to hear strange sounds in space, and that the sonar-like noise Wilmore reported likely isn’t overly complicated. However, the publication pointed out that these noises are noteworthy given the ongoing challenges Boeing and NASA have faced with the Starliner’s crewed flights, including significant helium leaks and thruster issues.

Meanwhile,  NASA will proceed with the undocking of the uncrewed Boeing Starliner capsule not before Sept. 6, the space agency said on Thursday after concluding a review.

Last week, the space agency said its two astronauts who flew to the International Space Station (ISS) in the Starliner in June will return to Earth in a SpaceX vehicle early next year.

Starliner's propulsion system issues were deemed too risky for crewed return after the capsule experienced a series of glitches within the first 24 hours of its flight to the ISS.

The journey back to Earth for the Starliner is expected to take approximately six hours from undocking to landing at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico, NASA said in a blog post.