There is no greater spectacle in spaceflight than witnessing a launch in person, particularly of a large rocket. The rocket lifts off in eerie silence for an observer several kilometers away. Moments later, the sound arrives, loud enough to be felt as well as heard; it’s not uncommon for the noise to set off car alarms. In some cases, like the Falcon Heavy launch of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Aug. 30, there are also the sights and sounds of the returning boosters, including double sonic booms: startling even when anticipated.
To continue reading this article:
Register now to read
3 free articles this month.
You’ll also receive our weekly Editor’s Choice, SpaceNews This Week and Opinions newsletters. Opt-out at any time.
Sign in to an existing account
Jeff Foust writes about space policy, commercial space, and related topics for SpaceNews.
He earned a Ph.D. in planetary sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree with honors in geophysics and planetary science…
More by Jeff Foust