Earlier today, a crewman aboard the Boeing Starliner reported hearing strange sonar-like sounds emanating from a speaker inside the craft. While the exact cause of these noises remains unknown, the audio was shared online, leading to a wide of reactions.
The Strange Noise
The noise coming from the craft's speaker sounds a lot like submarine sonar or like someone is knocking on the craft from the outside. However, the astronauts cannot hear it from anywhere but the speaker. You can hear the call to Houston that included the actual studio of the sound on the social media platform X. Maybe you will know what it is.
Starliner crew reports hearing strange "sonar like noises" emanating from their craft. This is the real audio of it: pic.twitter.com/xzHTMvB7uq
— SpaceBasedFox 𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖊𝖊𝖆𝖊𝖗𝖔.𝖈𝖔𝖒 (@SpaceBasedFox) September 1, 2024
Social Media Reactions
One user humorously suggested that Boeing might have resorted to supernatural means to power the Starliner, referencing the souls of whistleblowers trapped in the spacecraft.
Some users linked the sounds to iconic sci-fi movies, with one referencing the motion detector from the Alien franchise and another quoting the classic Star Trek line, “She’s gonna blow!”
There were also more grounded suggestions, such as geomagnetic pulses being the potential cause of the noises, showing that not all users were leaning into supernatural explanations.
Other Possible Causes
Radiofrequency interference (RFI) or electromagnetic interference (EMI) from other systems onboard the ISS or the spacecraft itself could cause unintended noises through the speaker.
A feedback loop in the audio system could be another cause. A feedback loop might occur if there is an issue with the microphone and speaker setup or if there’s an open circuit or fault in the communication loop.
The speaker could be picking up signals from external sources, possibly even from other satellites or equipment nearby, and converting these signals into audio.
Boeing CST-100 Starliner
Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, has encountered some significant technical challenges during its latest mission to the International Space Station (ISS) that was supposed to last eight days and demonstrate its ability to transport astronauts to and from space safely.
However, the mission ended up facing many challenges, including multiple thruster failures and helium leaks, trapping two astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Luckily, SpaceX can bring them back home, but it will take several months to prepare.
Future Implications
The issues faced by Starliner during this mission represent a significant setback for Boeing, which has already encountered delays and financial losses with the program. While NASA still stands in support of Boeing, Elon Musk is quick to point out how far behind they are to SpaceX on X as they have had many successful space missions and have spent far less.
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