Modeling community noise impacts from launch vehicle propulsion noise

Commercial space is an emerging and evolving market as evidenced by the vast array of launch vehicles under development as well as the growing number of active and proposed launch sites. Federal Aviation Administration regulations require all new spaceports and launch vehicles to acquire a license. Part of the application process requires an environmental review to address the potential noise impacts to the environment and local communities. Accurate predictions of noise exposure from launch vehicles require models that have been validated over a range of vehicle types, operations, and atmospheric conditions. A high-fidelity launch vehicle simulation model, RUMBLE, has been developed to predict community noise exposure from spaceport launch, reentry, and static rocket operations. RUMBLE implements industry standard modeling practices to efficiently compute sound pressure level time histories, maximum levels, and sound exposure levels using the vehicle’s engine parameters and geo-referenced source/receiver definitions. An overview of RUMBLE’s underlying physics and the results of initial validation efforts (using multiple full-scale launch measurements) will be presented.