Mysterious booms ID'd as 'routine' ordnance explosions at Cape Canaveral AFS

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Mysterious booms ID'd as 'routine' ordnance explosions at Cape Canaveral AFS

1:30 PM, Jun. 16, 2011

A mysterious series of booms that woke beachside residents this morning and

rattled windows as far away as Merritt Island were likely the result of

controlled explosions at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, officials reported.

The loud booms were heard about 9 a.m. and continued until about noon.

At one point, sheriff's dispatchers fielded calls about four loud explosions but

Brevard County sheriff's deputies were unable to locate the origin of the

sounds.

An official with Cape Canaveral Air Force Station said the department handling

explosive ordnance disposal was conducting exercises earlier in the day but that

the explosions likely would not have been felt in the surrounding area.

" There was some minor (explosive ordnance disposal) but it was about a quarter

of what they ordinarily do, " said Calkins, spokesman for the 45th

Space Wing.

" It was very routine. "

The U.S. Geological Survey, the agency that monitors earthquake activity, noted

no usual seismic activity along Brevard County's coastline.

" We didn't have any quakes in that area, " said Russo, a geophysicist with

the U.S. Geological Survey.

" It may have been a possible atmospheric event like a sonic boom or military

activity. Florida actually has the least number of earthquakes of any state. "

Calkins said low-lying clouds in the area may have helped project noise from the

small explosions.