ATTENTION: Cause of thunder heard off Florida coast

Residents of Central Florida were surprised this Friday morning when thunder shook the region near the coast. Social media was quickly flooded with reports of loud, piercing noises, speculation and concern in the local community. However, the reason behind this unusual event is soon revealed: the return to Earth of the Ax-3 crew of Axiom Space.

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The X-3 team consisting of Commander Michael López-Alegría, Co-Pilot Walter Viladei, Project Astronaut Markus Wandt and Mission Specialist Alper Gezeravsi successfully completed their mission to the International Space Station (ISS) and returned home after 47 hours. Stay in space. According to WFLA, during its descent, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule produced a sonic boom as it exceeded the speed of sound, creating audible shock waves on the ground.

A sonic boom occurs when an object travels faster than the speed of sound, causing a sudden boom or pop. This phenomenon, although alarming to those who experience it, is a natural consequence of the return of a space mission and represents no threat to the population.

Axiom Space, a leading aerospace company, has been responsible for some of the previous sonic booms in the region during the return of its space missions. In May 2023, a similar sonic report echoed across central Florida as the booster returned to Earth after launching the Ax-2 mission from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

What did the Ax-3 crew achieve in space?

The Ax-3 crew, which was sponsored by Axiom Space, marked a historic event by becoming the first fully European commercial astronaut mission to visit the ISS. During their time on the station, they conducted a number of research experiments and contributed to the advancement of space exploration and science.

The successful return of the Ax-3 crew is one of many milestones in the continued growth of the commercial space program and aerospace industry in Florida. With companies like SpaceX and Axiom Space leading the way, Florida’s Space Coast has become a global center for space innovation and exploration.

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