Early Morning Sonic Boom as Four Astronauts Return to Earth, Another SpaceX Rocket Scheduled Tuesday

Four astronauts concluded their two-week mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) early Tuesday morning, as Axiom Space’s Ax-4 crew safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule “Grace.” The capsule landed off the coast of San Diego at 2:32 a.m., marking the end of the 22-hour return trip to Earth after undocking from the ISS on Monday.

The Ax-4 mission launched on June 26 from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. Led by veteran astronaut and current Axiom director of human spaceflight Peggy Whitson, the crew carried out a record-breaking 60 experiments and technology demonstrations involving contributions from 31 countries. The mission included science investigations and public outreach activities, surpassing all prior Axiom missions.

Whitson, a former NASA astronaut, extended her U.S. record for cumulative days in space to 695 during the mission. She was joined by three first-time astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary, all representing their countries’ first citizen participants aboard the ISS:

• Shubhanshu “Shux” Shukla (India): A pilot in the Indian Air Force and part of India’s upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight program.
• Sławosz “Suave” Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland): A member of the European Space Agency’s astronaut reserve program.
• Tibor Kapu (Hungary): Representing Hungary’s HUNOR astronaut program.

The Ax-4 mission, initially scheduled for about two weeks, was extended by four days for favorable orbital conditions during reentry. SpaceX’s revised recovery strategy brought the crew back to the Pacific Ocean under the deployment of drogue and main parachutes, ensuring a safe landing.

.#Ax4 Commander @AstroPeggy arrives back on Earth, and now with 695 days, she extends her record once again for the most cumulative time in space by an American astronaut. pic.twitter.com/P1774ifcc5

— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) July 15, 2025

“Grace” began its atmospheric descent at approximately 2:18 am off the coast of San Luis Obispo County and splashed down off the coast of San Diego at 2:31 a.m. It announced its arrival with a brief sonic boom prior to splashing down, which some residents throughout the central coast may have heard.

The mission recovery marked only SpaceX’s second West Coast crew return, a shift aimed at avoiding potential debris risks previously associated with Atlantic recoveries.

The next ISS mission, SpaceX’s Crew-11, is set to launch no earlier than July 31, bringing another team for a six- to eight-month rotation.

Vandenberg SFB Plans for Tuesday Night Rocket Launch

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 26 Starlink satellites will launch to low-Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Tuesday evening.

Liftoff is targeted for 7:05 p.m., with backup opportunities available until 7:59 p.m.. If needed, additional launch opportunities are also available on Wednesday, July 16 starting at 6:45 p.m. PT.

Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.