Loud boom triggers earthquake scare before SpaceX revelation
A deafening sonic boom followed by an eerie rattling noise sent Los Angeles residents into a panic on Saturday night, sparking fears of an earthquake or explosion. The unsettling event occurred around 10:45 PM, with reports flooding in from Santa Monica to Fresno as people took to social media searching for answers.
The source of the disturbance? A fiery return to Earth by Elon Musk’s SpaceX Dragon capsule, which created a supersonic shockwave as it reentered the atmosphere.
Social media erupts with doomsday theories
The abrupt explosion-like sound and subsequent vibrations led many to believe they were experiencing a seismic event, or something far more catastrophic.
- One alarmed resident tweeted, “That was so loud I thought it was my last day on Earth.”
- Another joked, “We’re all going out like the dinosaurs, huh?”
Despite SpaceX issuing a warning about an expected sonic boom an hour before the capsule’s descent, most Angelenos were caught off guard.
Sonic boom warning issued for Los Angeles as SpaceX capsule returns to Earth
After approximately 36 hours in transit, the capsule splashed down into the Pacific Ocean off the California coast. SpaceX had issued an alert about an hour before the descent, notifying the public that the Dragon capsule would “announce its arrival with a brief sonic boom.” However, the sonic boom caught most Los Angeles residents off guard despite the advance warning.
SpaceX and NASA have collaborated to ensure critical cargo and supplies reach the International Space Station. Spacecraft routinely return to Earth at supersonic speeds, and this particular reentry was monitored as part of standard operations.
Loud noises in the vicinity of Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County have become increasingly frequent in the region. SpaceX and the U.S. Space Force have acknowledged that such acoustic disturbances have become commonplace due to the regular schedule of rocket launches and landings in the area.
SpaceX Dragon completes mission, sparks sonic boom
The Dragon capsule had successfully undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) at 9:05 AM on Friday, carrying roughly 6,700 pounds of cargo. After 36 hours in transit, it splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast, announcing its arrival with a thunderous sonic boom.
NASA and SpaceX routinely collaborate on ISS resupply missions, with spacecraft often reentering at supersonic speeds. However, the intensity of the noise left many startled.
Sonic booms becoming a recurring nuisance
Residents near Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County have grown accustomed to such disturbances due to frequent rocket launches and landings. With SpaceX planning over 90 launches from the site by 2026, concerns over noise pollution are mounting, though military officials have so far dismissed appeals for restrictions.
