Expect More Sonic Booms on the Space Coast in August

NASA has announced that they will begin doing research on the Space Coast regarding Sonic Booms. The research called Sonic Booms in Atmospheric Turbulence, or SonicBAT  is intended to lead to a better understanding of how low altitude atmospheric turbulence affects sonic booms in humid climates such as we have here in Brevard County.

Beginning August 21 and continuing for 10 days, NASA will fly the F/A-18 Hornet out of The Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility flying to an altitude of 32,000 feet. From there the Hornet will accelerate to Mach 1, the speed of sound, to produce sonic booms. At the same time as this is happening, a glider equipped with dozens of microphones will fly at a lower altitude and record the sonic booms for review by researchers. The goal is to produce 33 sonic booms on which to gather data. In the course of 10 days, that will mean 2 - 3 sonic booms per day. Due to the location of the test flights, residents of Brevard County will most probably hear distance rumbles similar to thunder. But certainly enough to make my puppy girl Molly run for cover!

The end goal of this research is to find out if it is possible to reduce noise from supersonic flight over the United States and therefore possibly updating today's technology in the commercial sector. So don't be alarmed come the end of August, it is all for the sake of science!