SpaceX Starship's Sonic Boom Creates Risk of Structural Damage, Test Finds
Recent tests of SpaceX's Starship revealed sonic booms causing property damage near the launch site, with noise levels exceeding projections and raising environmental concerns about local wildlife and future flights.
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Recent tests of SpaceX's Starship rocket have revealed that its sonic boom poses a significant risk of structural damage to nearby properties. The data, collected during the rocket's fifth test launch, indicates that the noise levels generated are equivalent to standing 200 feet from a Boeing 747 during takeoff, far exceeding the expected maximum noise levels. The peak noise recorded reached 125 decibels, comparable to a gunshot, and created an overpressure event that surpassed previous projections. Residents of South Padre Island and Port Isabel, located about six miles from the launch site, have reported minor property damage, including cracks in plaster and broken windows. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had anticipated lower noise levels, and concerns have been raised about the environmental impact of the launches, particularly on local wildlife. The independent researcher, Kent L. Gee, noted that the sonic boom was more intense than that of the Concorde jets, which were banned from flying over U.S. land due to similar concerns. As SpaceX plans to conduct more test flights, the implications of these findings on future launches and local communities remain a critical issue.
- SpaceX's Starship generates noise levels significantly higher than projected, risking property damage.
- Residents near the launch site have reported minor structural damage due to sonic booms.
- The noise from Starship's launch is comparable to that of a Boeing 747 and exceeds that of the Concorde.
- Environmental concerns have been raised regarding the impact of launches on local wildlife.
- Future test flights are planned, with ongoing monitoring of noise levels and their effects.
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8 commentsRockets do make sonic booms on launch when they go supersonic but the shockwave travels forward and out. Generally unless something has gone very very wrong most rockets are launched upwards so generally people behind the rocket won't hear a sonic boom.
> Terracon found a peak sound pressure level of 144.6 decibels as the rocket descended, which is also higher than Port Isabel expected, said the city manager, Jared Hockema
That's loud. NIOSH recommended exposure limits are 8 hours at 85 dB(A), and for every 3-dB over that cut the time limit in half. For 144.6 dB (assuming it is dB(A)...the article just says decibels) the exposure limit would be 30 ms.
It's not clear though if that halving the time per 3-dB increase rule is applicable at the point. 144 dB looks like it might be above the threshold were there is instant hearing damage.
Anyway, how can they mitigate this? Since the problem is the returning booster could they change the flight profile so that after the booster separates it slows down to subsonic speed before it starts coming down?
“Notably, a supersonic Concorde flying at an altitude of 18 km produced a sonic boom with a PL of ∼105 dB at the ground. With a difference of 5 dB, one approximation for a Starship flyback boom at 20 km is a ∼50% increase in loudness over the Concorde boom (where 9 dB represents a loudness doubling; see Stevens, 1972).”
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