Evaluating frequency weighting in community noise metrics for rocket launch assessment

As rocket launches become more frequent, communities near spaceports face increasing exposure to high-amplitude, low-frequency noise—yet assessments often rely on A-weighted aircraft noise metrics developed for continuous, mid-frequency sources. This study analyzes far-field data from NASA’s Artemis-I mission using multiple frequency weighting schemes to evaluate the effectiveness of traditional cumulative noise metrics, including Day–Night Level (DNL) and Day–Evening–Night Level (Lden). The study examines applying C-weighted metrics to reveal the more realistic, higher cumulative noise levels at community distances. This launch-specific adaptation, Launch CDNL, a C-weighted variant adapted for infrequent, high-intensity, low-frequency events, is introduced. The presentation will compare A- and C-weighted DNL and Lden values across realistic scenarios to demonstrate how frequency weighting influences perceived exposure. Implications for regulatory practice and community impact assessment will be discussed.