Starship super heavy acoustics: Far-field noise measurements during launch and the first-ever booster catch.

Abstract

Far-field (9.7-35.5 km) noise measurements were made during the fifth flight test of SpaceX's Starship Super Heavy, which included the first-ever booster catch. Key results involving launch and flyback sonic boom sound levels include (a) A-weighted sound exposure levels during launch are 18 dB less than predicted at 35 km; (b) the flyback sonic boom exceeds 10 psf at 10 km; and (c) comparing Starship launch noise to Space Launch System and Falcon 9 shows that Starship is substantially louder; the far-field noise produced during a Starship launch is at least ten times that of Falcon 9.