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NASA traced the pulsing sound astronaut Butch Wilmore heard aboard Boeing’s Starliner to speaker feedback caused by an audio configuration between the spacecraft and the International Space Station (ISS). NASA said the sound stopped and had no technical impact on the crew, Starliner, or station operations.
What was the strange sound from Starliner?
NASA’s September 3, 2024, incident update identified the noise as feedback from a speaker. The audio configuration linked the ISS and Starliner, which was docked at the station during NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test.
NASA explained that the station’s audio system can connect multiple spacecraft and modules, and that noise and feedback are common in such a complex setup. The sound was therefore an audio-system issue, not an unexplained signal or evidence of an onboard mechanical fault.
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Was the noise a sign of a spacecraft emergency?
No. NASA said the speaker feedback had no technical impact on the crew, Starliner, or station operations, including the planned uncrewed undocking. NASA also reported that the sound had stopped.
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Why did Starliner return without its astronauts?
The decision to send Starliner back without Wilmore and fellow astronaut Suni Williams was separate from the audio issue. As the spacecraft approached the station, teams identified helium leaks and problems with its reaction-control thrusters. After reviews and testing, NASA chose an uncrewed return because it considered the unresolved uncertainty against the flight’s safety requirements.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the noise fits into the Starliner test flight
Starliner launched on June 5, 2024, with Wilmore and Williams aboard. NASA described it as the spacecraft’s first mission with crew and the first time astronauts had launched aboard Starliner.
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- BOEING CST-100 STARLINER – 1 Sheet Model with an easy difficulty level. Assembled Size: 1.97 (Diameter) x 2.17 H inches.
- FROM STEEL SHEETS TO 3D – Pop out the pieces and connect using tabs and holes. Includes illustrated instructions.
- HIGHLY DETAILED ETCHED MODEL – Display your 3D model once completed - collect and build them all.
Starliner returned without the astronauts and landed at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico at 10:01 p.m. MDT on September 6, 2024. NASA characterized the flight as a three-month test. The astronauts remained aboard the ISS rather than returning on Starliner.
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