Pop star Charlie Puth has publicly raised concerns over the increasing intensity of rocket launches near his residence in Santa Barbara, California, directly addressing SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on social media. Puth’s complaint came after a recent pre-dawn launch on Wednesday that he says was particularly disturbing for his family.
“Hi @elonmusk… these sonic booms have gotten progressively louder since they started launching the rockets in Santa Barbara,” Puth wrote on X. He described the incident that occurred around 3 AM local time as extremely frightening.
“This one at 3am today felt like 150–160 dB, violently shook our whole house, and really frightened my pregnant wife,” he added, expressing concern that future launches would continue to increase in volume.
Musk has not publicly responded to the singer’s post.
SpaceX Acknowledged Sonic Boom Possibility
The launch Puth referred to was a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 27 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit from the Vandenberg Space Force Base, near Santa Barbara, at 3:40 AM PT on Wednesday.
SpaceX had earlier noted on its official website that residents in the region, including those in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties, might hear “one or more sonic booms” during the launch. The company explained that the sound experienced on the ground can vary significantly depending on weather and atmospheric conditions, which can amplify the effects of the booms.
Personal Milestones Amidst the Noise
The complaint comes as Puth and his wife, Brooke Sansone, who were married in September 2024, prepare to welcome their first child. The couple announced the pregnancy in October, with the baby reportedly due in March. Puth’s concern highlights the impact of the increased frequency of launches on the quality of life for residents near the Vandenberg base.
The incident has renewed attention on the balance between ambitious space exploration programs and mitigating the noise and physical disturbances they cause for neighboring communities, an issue that has previously been raised by local representatives like Congressman Salud Carbajal.