Title: The Constant Thunder of SpaceX Launches: A Nighttime Disturbance for Surrounding Communities
SpaceX has transformed into a go-to service for space travel, allowing businesses and governments to affordably launch satellites into orbit for research and commercial purposes. This has been quite a buzz, but not always a positive one for locals living near launch sites. News outlets like Business Insider have spoken with residents near the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, who have shared mixed feelings about the frequent launches. Some are excited, while others are frustrated, with incidents of homes shaking, car alarms blaring, and dogs barking in the middle of the night. Similar concerns have been raised by residents in Florida and Texas.
Inga Yater, a Carpinteria, California resident, confessed to Business Insider that she experiences major panic attacks during launches, and the situation seems to be worsening. Locals in Lompoc, just 10 miles from the base, have reported feeling sonic booms that mimic earthquakes. SpaceX conducted 50 launches from Vandenberg alone in 2024 and aims to double that number in 2025. In addition to launching satellites for other companies, SpaceX has been developing its Starlink satellite internet service, with a need to periodically replace satellites approximately every five years.
Starlink has become a crucial communications infrastructure in places like Ukraine, where traditional ground-based connections are disrupted. However, the SMS alert system for locals notifying them of upcoming launches, while available, has been reported as unreliable, failing to give a clear idea of the expected strength of the boom.
The rockets SpaceX currently uses are primarily from its Falcon series, which are smaller than the Starship rockets SpaceX plans to use in the future. Kent Gee, a physics professor and acoustics engineer at Brigham Young University, compares Starship launches to a "volcanic eruption on the launchpad," strongly suggesting they would be as loud as standing 200 feet from a Boeing 747 during takeoff. SpaceX does not plan to launch Starship rockets from Vandenberg but is interested in launching Falcon Heavy rockets there, subject to the successful completion of an environmental review and the requirement for SpaceX to maintain insurance in case of structural damage reports.
Noise pollution and ground tremors can seriously disrupt daily life, and SpaceX may not offer immediate relief methods. Places like Florida and Texas, where launchpads are further from populated areas, experience fewer disturbances. Generally, launchpads need to be close to a body of water to avoid putting lives at risk if components shed upon impact.
SpaceX did not provide a comment to Business Insider, and they primarily decline media interviews. The company has faced criticism in Texas for allegedly harming wildlife; nevertheless, the president-elect Trump administration has signaled its intent to expedite project approvals for companies investing at least $1 billion into the United States, specifically mentioning environmental hurdles. This suggests that residents near SpaceX's launch sites should not expect a quick reprieve.
Enrichment Data Insights:
- The FAA has implemented several measures to mitigate the impact of SpaceX's frequent launches on nearby communities. These include conducting Environmental Assessments, outlining mitigation measures, holding public meetings, and conducting a Written Re-Evaluation.
- SpaceX plans to conduct up to 25 annual orbital launches and landings at the Boca Chica Launch Site in Texas. They also aim to upgrade their vehicles and expand the Starship landing area into the Indian Ocean for new trajectories proposed by SpaceX.
- The FAA's proposed action includes expanding the Starship landing area into the Indian Ocean, but this expansion is subject to FAA approval and related airspace closures for Starship reentry operations.
The advancement in SpaceX's technology, with plans to develop and launch larger Starship rockets, could potentially exacerbate the noise pollution and ground tremors experienced by local communities, such as those near California's Vandenberg Space Force Base. In the future, scientists and researchers may utilize these powerful rockets for groundbreaking space explorations.
