Oceanside, CA — A loud sonic boom shocked residents throughout Southern California late Saturday evening when a SpaceX cargo ship returned to Earth, splashing down into the Pacific Ocean off the coast near Oceanside.
The capsule, part of SpaceX’s second-to-last resupply mission to the International Space Station, had blasted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 21, carrying over 6,700 pounds of cargo and research gear to the orbiting laboratory. After more than a month of residence at the ISS, the unmanned Dragon spacecraft undocked Saturday afternoon and initiated the high-speed plunge back to Earth.
SpaceX had alerted the public via social media earlier in the evening that the capsule was expected to reenter the atmosphere and land off Southern California around 10:44 p.m. Pacific Time. Seconds later, residents of the surrounding area started reporting a deafening, cacophonous boom — created when the capsule moved at greater than the speed of sound as it plummeted through the atmosphere.
The sound, varying from a dull thunder to a crackling thunder based on location, was heard in locations such as Santa Clarita, Burbank, and West Hollywood.
“I was just in the process of getting into bed when the entire house shook,” said Amanda Reyes, a homeowner in Pasadena. “I thought maybe it was an earthquake — turns out it was space junk coming home.”
A New Era of West Coast Splashdowns
NASA and SpaceX have recently shifted splashdown operations from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean, citing safety and logistical improvements. By landing west of San Diego, mission planners can reduce risks associated with falling debris, particularly from the spacecraft’s trunk — a section jettisoned before final descent that doesn’t return intact.
Officials say landing in the Pacific also offers greater flexibility and safer recovery conditions, especially during periods of rough weather in the Gulf region.
More Booms Ahead
This isn’t the first time Californians have heard a sonic boom linked to space activity, and it likely won’t be the last. With SpaceX expanding its launch operations from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, booms tied to reentries and booster landings are expected to become more frequent.
The company, led by Elon Musk, has plans for more than 90 launches from the West Coast over the next few years. While the increased activity has drawn some noise complaints, both SpaceX and military officials maintain that the operations are well within safety guidelines.
The latest mission’s conclusion — marked by both a sonic spectacle and a successful splashdown — reflects the growing normalization of spaceflight as part of daily life in California. What once seemed rare or alarming is quickly becoming part of the background, as commercial space companies continue to scale up their efforts in partnership with NASA.
As for Saturday night’s return, the Dragon capsule is now safely back in SpaceX’s hands, along with its valuable cargo of completed experiments and space station hardware.