On the evening of May 30, residents in Northwest Florida reported hearing a tremendous boom. Several counties, including Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa, heard the explosion.
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| SpaceX Dragon crews returning to earth |
According to SpaceX, the boom was created by the splashdown of a Falcon 9 rocket that had launched earlier that day from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rocket was carrying 53 Starlink satellites, which are part of SpaceX's low-orbit satellite network that provides internet connectivity.
The rocket landed roughly 100 miles off the coast of Pensacola in the Gulf of Mexico. There have been no reports of casualties or property damage.
People as far away as 100 kilometers from the splashdown site felt the explosion. Some people stated their houses shook, while others said it sounded like a sonic explosion.
The explosion served as a reminder of Florida's burgeoning commercial space travel presence. In recent years, SpaceX has launched hundreds of rockets from Cape Canaveral, and the business intends to continue launching from Florida in the future.
Concerns were also expressed concerning the safety of commercial space flying as a result of the boom. Some people were concerned that the boom may have caused property damage or injuries.
The rocket's engines igniting as it re-entered the atmosphere, according to SpaceX, generated the noise. According to the business, the boom is a regular element of the rocket's landing procedure and poses no threat to public safety.
Source: Europeans24