All articles tagged with #sonic booms
Researchers suggest earthquake-monitoring seismic sensors could detect the sonic booms and ground shaking from large space debris reentries, helping to pinpoint where fragments land and protect people from hazards; the idea draws on events like China’s Shenzhou-15 orbital module’s reentry in 2022 and a later hypersonic event over Southern California.
Scientists from Johns Hopkins University and Imperial College London propose using seismometers to detect sonic booms produced by reentering space junk, turning ground sensors into a rapid tracking tool that could complement radar, optical, and satellite methods. In a trial involving China’s Shenzhou-15 reentry, seismic data reconstructed the debris’ sky path and diverged from Space Force radar predictions by about 40 kilometers, highlighting potential for faster location and recovery of toxic residues—though the approach requires more validation since small debris may not generate detectable signals and distinguishing signals from other sources remains a challenge.
SpaceX is launching a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base to deliver the Twilight mission, which includes multiple small payloads such as satellites from Umbra and NASA's Pandora and SPARCS. The launch is scheduled between 5:19 a.m. and 6:19 a.m. with a backup window on Monday, and residents may hear sonic booms. The first-stage booster will land at Landing Zone 4 after the launch, and the event can be watched live online or in person from various locations near Vandenberg.
Scientists are studying the acoustics of rocket launches at SpaceX's Starbase to better understand the sounds and sonic booms produced by frequent launches, which are becoming more common with companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin increasing their launch schedules.
Lockheed Martin has developed a "quiet" supersonic plane for NASA that aims to reduce the disruptive noise of sonic booms, potentially paving the way for accessible supersonic air travel and cutting cross-country travel time in half.
NASA's experimental X-59 aircraft, designed for low-noise supersonic flight over land, is preparing for its first flight in 2024. Built by Lockheed-Martin Skunk Works, the aircraft aims to reduce the intensity of sonic booms caused by breaking the sound barrier. The X-59 is made up of components from existing aircraft and will gather data on people's reactions to reduced sonic booms during flight. NASA plans to share the findings with regulators to potentially adjust rules prohibiting commercial supersonic flight over land. Safety remains a top priority, and the team is working towards meeting the 2024 launch goal.
SpaceX is preparing for the launch of a Falcon Heavy rocket carrying NASA's Psyche spacecraft, despite less than ideal weather conditions. The launch will be accompanied by double sonic booms generated by the tandem booster landings at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Psyche spacecraft aims to study an asteroid that may resemble Earth's core and will take about six years to reach its destination in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
NASA's X-59 supersonic plane has been moved to the flight line at Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works facility in California, marking a milestone in its preparation for ground and initial flight tests. The X-59 is part of NASA's Quesst mission to demonstrate supersonic flight without generating loud sonic booms. Data collected from flights over select U.S. cities will be shared with regulators to potentially enable commercial supersonic flight over land. The aircraft is designed to reach a speed of Mach 1.4 and fly at an altitude of 55,000 feet.