Musician Charlie Puth said a 3:40 a.m. Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg shook his home and frightened his pregnant wife, estimating the sonic boom at roughly 150–160 dB. He tagged Elon Musk, saying launches near Santa Barbara are getting louder, while neither Musk nor SpaceX had publicly responded. Experts warn sounds above ~120 dB can be harmful, and SpaceX has another launch planned for December 14. The incident underscores rising tension between local communities and frequent Starlink launches.
Charlie Puth Calls Out Elon Musk After Late-Night SpaceX Sonic Boom Shakes Home
Image Credit: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Musician Charlie Puth said a late-night SpaceX launch in Southern California shook his house and left his pregnant wife alarmed, interrupting the household’s sleep. The Falcon 9 liftoff occurred at 3:40 a.m. PT from Vandenberg Space Force Base and carried 27 Starlink satellites; Puth said the resulting sonic boom "felt like" it reached roughly 150–160 decibels.
What Happened
Puth publicly tagged Elon Musk on social media on Wednesday, arguing that sonic booms from launches near Santa Barbara have become louder over time. He described the early-morning blast as violently shaking their home and frightening his pregnant wife, and added a nervous joke hoping the noise would not intensify.
“This one at 3 am today felt like 150-160 dB, violently shook our whole house, and really frightened my pregnant wife. I hope they do not get louder,” Puth wrote.
Context And Response
The Falcon 9 launched from Vandenberg deployed another batch of Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. SpaceX’s website notes that residents in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties may hear sonic booms depending on weather and other conditions. At the time of Puth’s post, neither Elon Musk nor SpaceX had replied publicly to his message or to press inquiries about the specific claim.
Health And Community Concerns
Acoustics and health experts warn that prolonged exposure to sounds above about 120 decibels can be harmful, so a reported 150–160 dB event — as Puth described it — would be a serious concern for people nearby. The post highlights growing tension between frequent Starlink launches and communities near launch sites, where locals have complained about sleepless nights, disruptive booms and possible health effects.
SpaceX has another launch in the same region scheduled for the early morning of December 14. Neighbors and fans responded to Puth’s post with sympathy, soundproofing suggestions and debate over living near a launch site.
Note: The 150–160 dB figure was reported by Puth and has not been independently verified in public reporting at the time of writing.
