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JUST IN: Astronauts Trapped in Space Capture Strange Sounds During Communication with Control—Radio Confirms Authenticity (Audio)

In a puzzling and eerie development, NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore recently reported hearing strange, unexplained noises emanating from a speaker inside the Starliner spacecraft, currently docked at the International Space Station (ISS). The unsettling incident, which occurred on Saturday, has left both the crew and Mission Control at Johnson Space Center scratching their heads.

“I’ve got a question about Starliner,” Wilmore radioed down to Mission Control. “There’s a strange noise coming through the speaker… I don’t know what’s making it.”

Wilmore, unsure whether the noise was due to a connection issue between the ISS and the Starliner or something else entirely, asked the flight controllers in Houston to listen in on the audio inside the spacecraft. A few minutes later, Mission Control confirmed they were linked via “hardline” to monitor the audio. What they heard was a distinctive, sonar-like pinging sound that sent shivers down the spine of those listening.

“Alright Butch, that one came through,” Mission Control responded. “It was kind of like a pulsing noise, almost like a sonar ping.”

Wilmore then repeated the process, capturing the bizarre noise again. “Alright, over to you. Call us if you figure it out,” he said, leaving the mystery unsolved.

The audio recording of this otherworldly sound, along with Wilmore’s conversation with Mission Control, was shared by Michigan-based meteorologist Rob Dale. The authenticity of the recording has since been confirmed, but the source of the sound remains a mystery.

Audio below:

While astronauts have encountered odd noises in space before—such as during China’s first human spaceflight in 2003, when astronaut Yang Liwei reported hearing a sound like “an iron bucket being knocked by a wooden hammer”—the origin of these noises is usually benign. Scientists later determined that the noise heard by Yang Liwei was caused by small deformations in the spacecraft due to pressure differences.

However, given the series of issues that have plagued the Starliner spacecraft, including substantial helium leaks and failing thrusters, the discovery of these sonar-like sounds has raised concerns. The spacecraft is scheduled to return autonomously to Earth on Friday, September 6, while Wilmore and his fellow astronaut Suni Williams will return aboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft next February.

As NASA continues to investigate the source of these mysterious sounds, the incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable and often strange nature of space exploration. For now, the strange pings remain an unsolved riddle, adding to the long list of space oddities that continue to fascinate and perplex both scientists and the public.

Natalie D.

Natalie D. is an American conservative writer who writes for Supreme Insider and Conservative US, ! Natalie has described herself as a polemicist who likes to "stir up the pot," and does not "pretend to be impartial or balanced, as broadcasters do," drawing criticism from the left, and sometimes from the right. As a passionate journalist, she works relentlessly to uncover the corruption happening in Washington. She is a "constitutional conservative".

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