Staff Reports
It was a loud and fiery morning in Florida as a crew of four astronauts made their epic return to Earth from the International Space Station. The bold astronauts arrived with a bang, literally, as their reentry into the atmosphere created a deafening sonic boom that could be heard and felt across the entire state.
NASA astronauts returned to Earth with a loud sonic boom heard all over Florida https://t.co/gHNGGDIPdq
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) September 4, 2023
Confused residents bombarded News4Jax with emails and phone calls, desperate to uncover the source of the earth-shaking sound. But fear not, fellow Floridians, it was not an alien attack as some may have feared. No, this sonic boom was the result of a highly successful SpaceX mission, led by none other than the magnificent Dragon capsule!
Space X re-entry with crew on board. It went right over our head! Just the coolest thing! About a minute later we heard the big sonic boom! It was so directly over my head that I had to spin with the camera to get it! #ocala #Spacex pic.twitter.com/8A9o2hxu5P
— Ashley Godwin @ Rivermont Farm (@RivermontFarm) September 4, 2023
Dragon capsule flying over Jacksonville on reentry. Heard the classic sonic boom about 5 minutes after this. Then the entire neighborhoods dogs waking up. pic.twitter.com/J1jbS2nNA4
— Robert Speta (@RobertSpetaWX) September 4, 2023
Dragon over Gainesville! @SpaceX a few minute later we heard the sonic boom 💥 pic.twitter.com/GPztgVqRmn
— Belen (@mBelenFarias) September 4, 2023
Heads up folks across north Florida, the peninsula, and south Georgia. The @NASA #Crew6 mission will be returning to earth tonight w/splashdown est. 1217 am ET. If you look towards the path around 1205a-1220a it could be visible. A sonic boom cant be ruled out either. #FLwx #GAwx pic.twitter.com/L7TWFAeNnh
— NWS Tallahassee (@NWSTallahassee) September 3, 2023
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with sonic booms, let this reporter provide a quick science lesson. A sonic boom occurs when an object, such as a spacecraft, speeds through the air faster than the speed of sound. And let me tell you, this Crew Dragon capsule was moving at an impressive 17,000 miles per hour as it made its descent to our beloved planet. Talk about a need for speed!
The intense journey through Earth’s atmosphere caused the exterior of the spacecraft to heat up to a scorching 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s enough to make you appreciate that air conditioning bill, isn’t it? But our brave Florida residents didn’t let the heat stop them from witnessing this historic moment. They gathered outside to witness what looked like a magnificent fireball lighting up the sky. Truly a sight to behold!
In fact, the National Weather Service had even issued a warning to the fine folks of Tallahassee, giving them a heads up that a sonic boom might rock their night. How considerate!
After an awe-inspiring six-month visit to the International Space Station, the Crew-6 astronauts safely splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of Jacksonville. They were greeted with a heartfelt thank you from their commander, Stephen Bowen, who expressed his gratitude to SpaceX for their unwavering support throughout the entire mission. What a gentleman!
I can’t help but feel a sense of pride in our great nation’s scientific advancements. The successful return of these brave astronauts proves once again that American ingenuity and determination are unmatched. Let us celebrate this achievement and look forward to the next bold adventure that awaits us in the vast expanse of space!
