Residents Across Nine Counties Advised of Potential Loud Booms
A sonic boom advisory has been issued for Florida’s Space Coast on Saturday morning, April 11, 2026. The advisory is related to the planned launch and landing of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral.
Launch and Landing Details
SpaceX is scheduled to launch Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff is targeted for 7:41 a.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. A backup launch opportunity is available on Sunday at 7:15 a.m.
Approximately eight minutes after launch, the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage will return to Earth, targeting a landing at SpaceX’s Landing Zone 40 at Cape Canaveral.
Impact Area for Sonic Booms
The sonic booms are expected to be generated during the rocket’s landing phase as it re-enters the atmosphere. Residents across a wide area of Central Florida may hear one or more loud sonic booms. The counties included in the advisory are:
- Brevard
- Orange
- Osceola
- Indian River
- Seminole
- Volusia
- Polk
- St. Lucie
- Okeechobee
Sonic booms are a normal part of SpaceX’s rocket recovery operations and do not indicate a problem with the mission. Residents are advised not to be alarmed by the loud noises associated with the landing.
