Using RUMBLE for spaceport community noise prediction

The rapid expansion of commercial space operations has increased the demand for accessible, accurate rocket noise prediction tools. RUMBLE (Launch Vehicle Acoustic Simulation Model), developed by Blue Ridge Research and Consulting under ACRP Project 02-66, provides modeling capabilities for commercial spaceports. Although RUMBLE allows user-defined atmospheric and trajectory inputs, comparisons with real-world data are often limited by input availability and fidelity. This study demonstrates a method for improving prediction accuracy using RUMBLE’s existing structure. Atmospheric profiles are generated from local sea-level weather (temperature, pressure, and humidity) via standard thermodynamic models. Trajectory data from FlightClub.io is processed to estimate velocity, flight path angle, heading, and pitch. These custom inputs yield LZmax predictions for each launch. Model output is validated using Falcon 9 acoustic measurements collected near Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. To enable comparison with time-resolved empirical data, a “rolling Lmax” method, analogous to rolling OASPL, is used, aligning scalar RUMBLE predictions with measured time histories. This approach provides insight into RUMBLE’s accuracy across launch types and conditions and identifies opportunities to refine both prediction and measurement practices for spaceport noise assessment.