Rocket Noise and Bird Songs

Figure 1: Dr. Gee showcases the Delta IV Heavy rocket during a measurement at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The microphone setup at the front measures the far-field rocket noise.

An exciting new space age has started with more rockets being launched than ever before, but with an increase in launches comes an increase in noise levels. BYU Professors Kent Gee and Grant Hart have received funding from the United States Space Force to study the generation and propagation of noise from rocket launches at Vandenberg Space Force base in California. In collaboration with California State University Bakersfield, they will analyze the effects of noise from multiple rocket launches on the behavior of endangered species near Vandenberg. 

Vandenberg Space Force Base is home to many recent rocket launches including Falcon 9, Firefly Alpha, Delta IV Heavy, and Atlas V. Dr. Gee and Dr. Hart’s research group has already measured several rocket launches at Vandenberg, as well as NASA’s Artemis I launch out at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The study of rocket acoustics is imperative due to the intense noise that can damage the payload and launch pad, annoy nearby communities, and impact local wildlife. Particularly, this research will investigate impacts on shore birds, red-legged frogs, monarch butterflies, and some endangered fish species.

Figure 2: Dr. Hart at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

To determine the impact on these species, baseline data must be recorded and compared to data collected near a launch. While these data will be both acoustic and visual, Dr. Gee and Dr. Hart will be in charge of the acoustic monitoring of species. There is a threshold acoustic level for which certain animals will be negatively affected by noise, but the levels for the endangered species in this study are not known as of yet. This task will be done in collaboration with the California State University Bakersfield ecological group to determine these values.

Dr. Gee and Dr. Hart also seek to develop accurate physics-based models to predict the noise from each rocket launch. These models could be used to predict the levels both near and far from the pad. Based on the location of the endangered species relative to the launch pad, the models can predict whether a rocket launch will negatively impact the species before the launch occurs. This will allow the Space Force and other groups launching rockets to make any adjustments needed to their launch plan.

Figure 3: Dr. Gee’s and Dr. Hart’s research group in front of the Space Launch System Rocket.

Most importantly, Dr. Gee and Dr. Hart hope to give their students opportunities for experiential learning. Their research not only provides their students with opportunities to gain experience in field testing and data analysis, but it also inspires them to reach for the stars.

Student authors: Carson Cunningham, Jacob Streeter, Scott Hollingsworth, Levi Moats, Taggart Durrant, and Megan Robertson

News and Events

Image for Rocket Noise and Bird Songs
Hart, Gee, and their research group study the impact of rocket noise on wildlife
Image for Dr. Ragozzine's Nice, France Obersvatoire Sabbatical
Darin Ragozzine collaborates with leading planetary scientists in France
Image for New Faculty Member, Dr. Greg Francis
Dr. Greg Francis joins faculty, specializing in Physics Education
Image for Steve Summers' Insights for Students
Alumni Steve Summers answers interview questions for current students
Image for Wesley Morgan Doubles AP Physics Enrollment
Y Magazine recognizes finalist for the 2023 National Science Foundation’s Presidential Award of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
Image for Dr. John Colton’s Sabbatical to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Dr. John Colton embarked on a six-month sabbatical at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Colorado to explore the use of terahertz radiation in probing the chiral properties of hybrid perovskite materials, a research area previously unfamiliar to him.
Image for BYU Women Represent at CUWiP 2024
21 women student attend conference at Montana State University, where students engaged in keynote speeches, panels, and research presentations.
Image for Nathan Powers, Updated labs and AAPT lab committee work
Dr. Powers initiated the effort to update BYU’s physics undergraduate lab curriculum in 2015. The revamped curriculum, aimed at teaching students how to construct knowledge from experiments.
Image for Dr. Stephens’ Sabbatical to University of Arizona
Dr. Stephens participated in a research project at the University of Arizona focused on studying brown dwarfs using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
Image for Adam Fennimore's Insights for Students
Alumni Adam Fennimore shares career insights for current students
Image for Society of Physics Students Awarded Outreach Grant
BYU's SPS is selected for Marsh Award for their outreach plan with Boys & Girls Club