Coyle Discusses Rocket Launch Noise Research
Rollins physics professor Whitney Coyle’s research into the long-term impacts of rocket launches on nearby communities was featured on Academic Minute.
By Jo Marie Hebeler
September 17, 2026
The program, produced by NPR affiliate WAMC and hosted by Association of American Colleges & Universities President Lynn Pasquerella, airs on more than 70 NPR member stations across the country. “A rocket launch produces rumblings, vibrations, and high-intensity sound near the launch pad that can also travel to communities tens of miles away. My research focuses on how that sound propagates into communities near Cape Canaveral and how repeated launches may affect the local environment as launch cadence increases,” said Coyle.
To measure these complex acoustic dynamics, Coyle partners with undergraduate physics students through Rollins’ Collaborative Research Fellowship Program. The research team deploys specialized instruments—including calibrated sound level meters, accelerometers, and ground vibration sensors—to collect comprehensive data. Their instruments measure both audible sound levels and imperceptible low-frequency components. “We are measuring how windows, walls, and structures respond to the low-frequency energy produced during launch. These low-frequency sounds are especially important because they are not fully captured by traditional aircraft-based noise metrics currently used by the FAA,” said Coyle.
Coyle said, “Residents along the Space Coast are overwhelmingly supportive of spaceflight and excited about continued growth in launch activity.” However, community planners and regional agencies currently lack sufficient empirical data to evaluate the long-term impact of frequent launches. Coyle’s work seeks to fill this data gap by establishing a baseline for rocket-specific acoustic environments.
Coyle concluded that, “this research is helping build the foundation needed to better characterize rocket-specific noise environments, evaluate potential structural response in nearby buildings, and eventually connect those measurements to how people perceive and respond to launches. As access to space continues to grow, understanding the broader environmental and community impacts of launch noise will become increasingly important, and this work is helping lay the groundwork for that future understanding.”
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