SpaceX’s Falcon 9 creates temporary hole in Earth’s ionosphere
SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch punched a temporary hole in Earth's ionosphere. While minimal GPS impact occurred, experts urge caution as powerful rocket launches become more frequent
A rocket launched by Elon Musk’s SpaceX punched a temporary hole in the ionosphere surrounding our planet, according to a report in spaceweather.com. On July 19, the Falcon 9 rocket took off from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base, on yet another space journey.
Space physicist Jeff Baumgardner from Boston University studied footage of the launch and noted a faint red glow during the rocket’s second-stage engine burn at an altitude of approximately 286 kilometres, near the F-region peak for that time of day. He suggested that this red glow might indicate the creation of an ionospheric “hole,” a phenomenon well-known when rockets burn their engines at high altitudes above the Earth’s surface.
The ionosphere is a critical layer for our planet as it plays a role in reflecting and modifying radio waves used for communication and navigation. Geomagnetic storms interacting with the ions in the ionosphere also produce mesmerising aurora lights in the sky.
While the impact of this rocket launch on the ionosphere did not cause significant disruptions to GPS systems, experts warn that with more powerful rockets becoming commonplace, such incidents may become more prevalent. Such disturbances could affect GPS systems, leading to alterations in location accuracy.
Scientists like Charles CH Lin from the National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan express their concern that as rocket launches become more frequent and powerful, they might have a gradual impact on the middle and upper atmosphere, warranting closer attention.
Similar events involving the Falcon 9 rocket have occurred in the past. A launch in 2017 and another in 2022 from Vandenberg Space Force Base caused disruptions in the ionosphere, creating temporary holes in the plasma.
As we enter an era of more frequent rocket launches and the development of advanced rockets, it becomes essential to maintain a balance between space exploration and preserving the delicate balance of Earth’s atmosphere. Scientists, space agencies, and companies like SpaceX will need to collaborate to mitigate any potential adverse effects on our planet’s ionosphere and its crucial functions.
