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Secret SpaceX launch may produce sonic boom

By WFTV.com
Nov 15, 2017

SpaceX's top secret launch, code-named Zuma, is set for Wednesday night. The launch window opens at 8 p.m. and closes at 10 p.m.

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SpaceX sent an advisory Wednesday warning that this launch could trigger a sonic boom, which residents of Brevard, Orange, Osceola Seminole and Volusia counties may experience. Hearing the sonic boom will depend on weather conditions across the region.

The new nine-engine rocket will launch from pad 39A and will take the secret payload to a low orbit. Falcon 9 rocket will return to Landing Zone 1 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Prior to this mission SpaceX has landed the first stage booster at Landing Zone 1 seven times.

The Zuma mission will be SpaceX's 17 launch this year.

>> Watch: The science behind a sonic boom

The engines were ignited for testing purposes early Saturday evening at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This is a customary step in all SpaceXlaunch campaigns.

Cumulus clouds could be the main restrictions for the launch, which is given a 70 percent chance of being a “go."

Getty file photo (Photo by NASA via Getty Images)
Getty file photo (Photo by NASA via Getty Images)

If necessary, the next window will be on Thursday evening. We will stream the launch live here on wftv.com/watch-live and on Facebook Live.

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