SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The latest SpaceX launch from Vandenberg became a topic of conversation due to the loud sonic boom that followed. Even retired Westmont Physics Professor, Dr. Ken ...

The sonic boom from the October Starship launch measured up to 146 decibels in some areas. “That’s like being a few feet away from a gunshot without hearing protection,” Gee said.

Sonic booms from rockets are also lower frequency, with peaks of less than 1 Hz—below the range of human hearing. The result is less of a "boom" and more of a "bang," according to Gee, that can ...