Neighbors are not happy. The Starship mega-rocket generates so much noise that it can damage the homes of Texans

The return of the Starship’s reusable rocket, which is the largest in history, creates a powerful shock wave. In addition to the moment of re-entry, the Starship provokes a sonic boom after the separation of the removable heat shield, which falls on Earth from a great height.

A team of researchers measured this sound exposure and air pressure during Starship’s fifth test flight in October. Scientists found that the missile poses a risk of structural damage, such as broken glass, in the city of Port Isabel and the southern part of South Padre Island in Texas.

According to the study, the sonic boom from Starship is 9 times louder than that generated by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and 10 times more powerful than that generated by NASA’s SLS Space Launch System.

“While these are relative comparisons, they give a better idea of ​​a vehicle that could soon be launched more than 100 times a year. Additional measurements are needed to understand the potential noise impacts of Starship on sensitive structures, communities and the environment,” say the researchers.

This is not the first time that SpaceX’s activities have caused researchers to warn of possible consequences. After Starship was first launched, a group of environmental groups in Texas filed a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), accusing them of issuing permits without proper environmental review. SpaceX’s launch pad at Boca Chica Starbase is surrounded by an environment that is considered a refuge for several endangered species, such as ocelots and Camp Ridley sea turtles.

We will remind you that Elon Musk wants the mega-rocket of his company SpaceX to fly more often. Next year, it is planned to carry out 25 launches, and then – to reach 100 launches during the year. So far, the company has only conducted test runs, the last of which took place last week.