Date of Award

Fall 2024

Thesis Type

Rollins Access Only

Degree Name

Honors Bachelor of Arts

Department

Physics

Sponsor

Whitney Coyle

Committee Member

Anne Murdaugh

Committee Member

Emily Nodine

Abstract

This thesis investigates the acoustic impact of rocket launches from Cape Canaveral, focusing on NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) and SpaceX's Falcon 9. Initial studies on SLS’s Artemis-I launch report sound pressure levels and frequency spectra up to 50 kilometers from the launchpad. Results showed significantly higher sound levels than predicted, underscoring the need for updated models to accurately represent noise impacts on surrounding communities. Building on these findings, subsequent work during the thesis calculated SLS's sound power and compared it to historical data from NASA’s Saturn V to characterize the acoustic efficiency of modern heavy-lift rockets. Further analysis applied aeroacoustic scaling laws typically used for supersonic jets, improving modeling of rockets with multiple types of engines and motors. In addition, repeated measurements of Falcon 9 launches were conducted, providing a dataset to evaluate variation in rocket noise propagation. The thesis concludes by highlighting insights for refining noise models to better assess the environmental and community impacts of current and future rocket launches. This work contributes to sustainable spaceport operations by informing practices that can mitigate rocket noise as the launch cadence on Florida's space coast continues to increase.

Rights Holder

Makayle Kellison

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