Sonic Booms focus of Mission Update in Ojai

OJAI, Calif. (KEYT) Vandenberg Space Force Base concluded a four-stop "Mission Update" community speaker series in Ojai with a focus on Sonic Booms.

Even Ojai's Mayor Andy Gilman has heard and felt sonic booms at his home near city hall following launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

"You''ll hear a window rattle every once in awhile it kind of sounds like a firework but father and  bigger away but they are still happening but much much less and not in those early morning hours so we are very grateful," said Gilman.

Col. James T. Horne III led the discussion.

"We care deeply and very much about the environment."

The Launch Delta 30 Commander said there have been 42 launches from Vandenberg so far this year.

He said that equals the launches from Cape Canaveral.

He expects about 48 more launches by the end of the year.

Some community members oppose the launches for health, environmental and safety reasons, while others appreciate the importance of the base that was established in 1941.

"Space is now a contested domain, our adversaries chose to go that route, we had not choice but to then go protect what we have," said Horne.

He also said everyone with a phone should care.

"Why do you care? When you flip out your phone and use it for almost any application that you use you are leveraging space capability," said Horne, "and frankly space capability that we are providing for the world.

He said President Clinton decided to allow the public to leverage the GPS signal from space.

He said for the first 15 years is was only used by the military.

He said it now provides critical information to the nation.

Satellite forecasting is one of the vital capabilities said Horne.

"We are working very hard to mitigate what's happening and understand it more and we are writing the science literally behind what is happening and then using that to inform policy to minimize impacts and be good stewards of resources and a responsible community partner," said Horne.

Physic professor Dr. Kent Gee, from the Brigham Young University in Utah, flew out to speak to residents about the sonic booms produced by the wake of the missile launches.

"You might here a bang, but indoors a bang causes everything to vibrate  and I think that is what startles people, especially here in California," said Gee.

Gee said it took him awhile to appreciate that Californians may mistake the sonic booms for earthquakes.

Gee said the sonic boom focus vary depending on the launch trajectory and weather conditions.

He said summer winds usually reduce the intensity.

Sometimes he said the sonic boom may sounds like a "rumble or a thump, thump."

He acknowledged that they can rattle windows and even crack plaster.

Researchers are seeking volunteers to allow microphones to used in the study of launch impacts.

One woman in the audience believes it has harmed her hearing.

She said she has reported it to the base.

The base has a website where people can share their noise complaints and make claims.

There is also a link to get alerts prior to the opening of launch window.

Nathan Griffin of Ventura said he appreciated the first public meeting in Ojai.

"I believe that it is very indicative of the goodwill that Vandenberg Space Force Base has by having the commanding officer, the colonel come down and speak with the public, not just here in Ojai, but also the other areas," said Griffin, "also because the critical infrastructure, it is a very important base and the only base where they can launch satellites to the south orbit."

Griffin said he also appreciates the sound studies underway.

"You have to deal with it and have the goodwill to mitigate it and do enough studies and I think they are doing their fair share," said Griffin.

Jim Yarbrough of Ojai said he is concerned about surveillance linked to commercial launches and the potential for nuclear war linked to satellites launched in the U.S. and other countries.

"They are also probably part of the arms race the whole world needs to ratchet down the arms race thinking about a nuclear war or putting weapons in space," said Yarbrough.

The base has a button on its website to share noise complains and claims at https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/Contact-Us/