Falcon Heavy launch tonight could bring sonic booms across Florida's Space Coast
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. - SpaceX is targeting 11:53 p.m. Thursday for the launch of its Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The mission, designated NROL-97, will carry a classified national security payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, the U.S. agency responsible for operating the nation's reconnaissance satellites. A backup launch opportunity is available Friday night.
Expect sonic booms after launch
What To Expect:
If the launch proceeds as scheduled, residents along Florida's Space Coast could hear sonic booms about 7 to 8 minutes after liftoff as the Falcon Heavy's two side boosters return to Earth.
SpaceX is targeting a Falcon Heavy launch for the classified NROL-97 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) from Launch Complex 39A in Florida. [Credit: SpaceX]
The boosters are expected to land at Landing Zones 1 and 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Communities near Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach are most likely to experience loud, window-rattling booms, while areas farther inland could hear a fainter double boom roughly 10 to 11 minutes after launch.
The sonic booms occur when the returning boosters slow through the speed of sound during their descent.
Mission continues busy week for SpaceX
NROL-97 marks another milestone in an exceptionally active week for SpaceX.
The launch follows Thursday morning's successful Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station and another Falcon rocket launch from California earlier in the day, making it one of the company's busiest launch days of the year.
The Falcon Heavy's side boosters flying on the mission previously supported the GOES-U, Viasat-3 F3 and Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope missions.
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by SpaceX.