LISTEN: Sonic Booms on Space Coast During SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launch
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch late Thursday in Brevard County resulted in a trio of sonic booms on the Space Coast, following a similar event during the successful Crew-13 launch earlier that day.
Liftoff for NROL-97 took place just before midnight from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. This classified satellite mission was conducted on behalf of the National Reconnaissance Office.
Following stage separation, sonic booms were produced as the Falcon Heavy’s two side boosters returned to Earth, successfully landing at Landing Zones 1 and 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The sonic booms from the Falcon Heavy were anticipated, as similar sounds were forecasted during the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman telescope in August.
The first sonic boom of the day occurred as the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket for Crew-13 approached Landing Zone 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
