SpaceX’s Dragon reentry in Southern California creates sonic boom

LOS ANGELES — A sonic boom shook part of Southern California Saturday night as SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft reentered Earth’s atmosphere.

According to the Hawthorne-based company, the unpiloted spacecraft was expected to “announce its arrival” with a brief sonic boom before landing in the Pacific Ocean.

“Dragon is on track to reenter Earth’s atmosphere and splash down off the southern coast of California near Oceanside at 10:44 p.m. PT,” SpaceX posted on X.

Dragon officially landed in the water at approximately 10:45 p.m, aided by “drogue parachutes,” according to X posts.

These are the first drogue parachutes built entirely in-house by SpaceX. Tested earlier this year, they include key data-driven upgrades such as stronger joints and ribbons and a re-positioned pack for smoother deployment and inflation pic.twitter.com/AQBkJxTJq9

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 25, 2025