Study from Rollins College shows rocket launches ‘feel’ louder than readings show
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. —
A new study is meant to establish a baseline for what rocket launches sound and feel like on the Space Coast.
Rollins College physics professor Whitney Coyle, alongside physics students through Rollins’ Collaborative Research Fellowship Program, was commissioned by the city of Cape Canaveral to establish a baseline for rocket noise and vibration.
The team placed sensors at five locations, collecting data from 34 launches and booster landings between October 2025 and May 2026.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket produced the highest peak sound pressure. The loudest acoustic event recorded was a sonic boom from a SpaceX Falcon Heavy booster.
Those loud booms did not register particularly high on a decibel reading.
The study also found that large sliding glass doors rattled more than small windows. Air quality levels remained below federal daily limits.