SpaceX plans to launch 50 Starlink satellites tonight from Launch Complex 39A at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, a mission that may generate a sonic boom over portions of Brevard County. The launch window opens at 7:30 p.m. and lasts until 9:30 p.m. EST, according to SpaceX. Residents in areas near the spaceport may hear the boom, which occurs when a spacecraft breaks the sound barrier during ascent.
The mission, part of SpaceX’s Starlink broadband project, aims to deploy satellites that will expand global internet coverage. The company has conducted similar launches in recent weeks, though this is the first such mission in Brevard County this year. The satellites are scheduled to separate from the Falcon 9 rocket approximately 8 minutes after liftoff.
A sonic boom from a rocket launch is typically heard within a 10- to 20-mile radius of the launch site, depending on atmospheric conditions. Local officials have not issued specific warnings, but they advise residents to stay indoors if they hear a loud noise. The boom is expected to be brief, lasting only a few seconds.
The launch follows a busy month for SpaceX, which has conducted multiple Starlink missions from both Florida and Texas. The company’s operations at Cape Canaveral have increased in frequency as it works to meet demand for its satellite internet service. This particular mission is the 11th Starlink launch of 2024 from the East Coast.
Residents in the area have mixed reactions. Some express concern about the noise, while others support the space industry’s growth. "It’s exciting to see so much activity at the spaceport," said one resident in Cocoa. "But I hope the noise doesn’t bother my neighbors too much." SpaceX has not commented on the potential sonic boom, but it typically notifies local authorities before launches.