Starship Super Heavy acoustics: Comparing launch noise from Flights 5 and 6

2025/02/01 by Kent L. Gee, Noah L. Pulsipher, Makayle S. Kellison +3 · 2 voices
Engineering · Environmental Science · Health Professions · #Aerodynamics and Acoustics in Jet Flows #Noise Effects and Management #Wind and Air Flow Studies

paper · doi:10.1121/10.0035925

openalex publication_date 2025/02/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/26

Abstract

This Letter analyzes launch noise from Starship Super Heavy's Flights 5 and 6. While Flight-5 data covered 9.7-35.5 km, the stations during Flight 6 spanned 1.0-35.5 km. A comparison of A-weighted and unweighted maximum and exposure levels is made between flights and with an updated environmental assessment (EA). Key findings include: (a) the two flights' noise levels diverge beyond 10 km, (b) EA models overestimate A-weighted metrics, and (c) the acoustic energy from a Starship launch is equivalent to 2.2 Space Launch System launches or ∼11 Falcon 9 launches. These measurements help predict Starship's noise levels around Kennedy Space Center.

Citations

• Starship super heavy acoustics: Far-field noise measurements during launch and the first-ever booster catch
• Flyback sonic booms from Falcon-9 rockets: Measured data and some considerations for future models

Discussions

• What did our BYU team get when we measured a second flight of Starship? We found that in the far field (> 10 km), the sound levels depended greatly on the weather conditions. Find out more in our pape [bsky, 1 points, 0 comments]
• As Starship is prepped for Flight 8, here's a launch noise analysis of Flights 5 and 6. Atmospheric winds make a big difference in far-field sound levels. (Figure quality in the online version is meh [bsky, 1 points, 0 comments]

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