Another Falcon 9 launch Friday morning provided a morning wakeup call from Vandenberg Space Force Base as officials reveal some details of a trailblazing study into rocket-related noise.
The two-stage Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 6:43 a.m. Friday with 26 Starlink satellites on board. Approximately an hour later, SpaceX confirmed the satellites had deployed.
This was the second Falcon rocket launch from Vandenberg the week and the 18th for the SpaceX vehicle from the Santa Barbara County site in 2025.
A boost in launch activity plus complaints and concerns about noise led to what Vandenberg officials dubbed “a groundbreaking research collaboration.”
Previous research on acoustic shock waves is substantial, but mostly centered on aircraft, military officials said.
In comparison, rocket launches create more complex sonic boom patterns due to a unique flight path, rapid acceleration, and extreme altitude changes.
“This is a significant focus area for us. As we safely move launches further east to open access to operational orbits, we’re encountering new challenges, such as the phenomenon of sonic booms during ascent along the coast of California,” said Col. Mark Shoemaker, commander of Space Launch Delta 30, the primary unit at the base.
“This situation presents opportunities for research, and we’re currently working on modeling these effects to better understand and account for them in operational planning,” Shoemaker said.
In addition to the U.S. Space Force, the effort had included Brigham Young University, California State University Bakersfield, the Federal Aviation Administration, SpaceX, and NASA to learn more about launch acoustics and sonic booms.
The collaborative sonic boom study has monitored 11 launches with plans to track more throughout 2025.
The study involves a network of approximately 25 high-tech monitoring stations spread across 500 square miles. The various stations have been positioned from the beaches between Isla Vista and Malibu to the hills of Ojai to capture information about what experts have dubbed the complex sonic boom patterns created by rockets in flight.
As Santa Barbara County residents know, launches of the same rocket from the same site at Vandenberg still can generate varying levels of sound.
“It’s like trying to catch lightning in a bottle,” said Kent Gee, Department of Physics and Astronomy at Brigham Young University, who leads the academic research team.
Various factors affecting the noise includes the launch trajectory, rocket size, and atmospheric conditions, Gee said.
A Launch Readiness Review conducted by Vandenberg officials and aerospace contractors ahead of each mission analyzes the data models to predict likely noise impact.
Following a launch, the team uses data collected from the monitoring stations to validate predictions and possibly implement actions to reduce potential disturbance.
“It’s a delicate balance,” Shoemaker said. “Every adjustment we make has ripple effects. Fly too far west, and it could compromise our ability to get satellites into the required orbit. Fly too far east, and there might be increased noise in populated areas. But we’re committed to collecting data, following the science, and optimizing operations.”
Vandenberg commanders say the data collected could lead to implementing measures to reduce impacts from noise.
Base leaders have already taken other steps such as limiting middle-of-the-night liftoffs when possible. Departure times for rocket launches are decided based on where satellites need be placed in space.
The number of rocket launches has increased as government agencies craft smaller satellites to create more flexibility.
Multiple commercial firms, such and Starlink and Amazon, also have created mega-constellations to provide internet access, communication and other services from space.
Friday’s liftoff marked the 125th mission for SpaceX Falcon from Space Launch Complex-4 at Vandenberg, SpaceX said.
Another Falcon 9 rocket launch may occur as a soon as Monday from the West Coast site.
Vandenberg also plans to conduct an unarmed Minuteman III missile test launch between 12:01 and 5:01 a.m. Wednesday. ICBM test launches occur from underground silos dotting the northern section of Vandenberg.
