A new analysis has shown concern that Elon Musk Space Company Space X Launched from California last week by The rocket A hole has probably been created in the Earth’s ionosphere.
The Falcon 9 rocket, launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on July 19, likely punched a hole in the ionosphere, the review said.
The ionosphere, or sphere, is a layer around the fluid Earth that contains the fourth type of plasma of matter, where a sea of electrically charged particles floats at an altitude of about 80 to 650 kilometers.
While reviewing the footage of the rocket launch, Jeff Baumgardner, an astrophysicist at Boston University in the United States, said, “It is quite possible that the launch created a hole in the ionosphere.”
He told US website spaceweather.com: ‘This is a well-studied phenomenon when rockets are releasing heat from their engines 200 to 300 kilometers above the Earth’s surface.’
Previous research has shown that with the increasing number of rocket launches around the world, holes in the ionosphere are becoming more common, making it possible to transmit radio communications to Earth.
The ionosphere is also dynamic and expands and contracts based on solar conditions. It is classified into sub-regions known as D, E and F. This classification is based on a layer’s ability to absorb wavelengths of solar radiation.
Studies show that flares from rockets and their engines can change the process by which charged particles form in this layer around Earth.
Rocket motions can also create large disturbances in the ionosphere that travel faster than the speed of sound and create shock waves in the layers.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was also launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on February 27, 2023 (AFP)
Research shows that as fast-moving rockets move toward the edge of space, they release water and carbon dioxide that can reduce the ionization process by two-thirds.
They particularly affect the F layer of the ionosphere, the subregions of which have the highest electron density.
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Holes in the ionosphere caused by rockets are identified by their red color because the oxygen ions in this layer react with electrons from the rocket’s emission.
Experts said it produces light at the same wavelength as the red aurora.
Previous rockets launched by SpaceX also created holes in the ionosphere.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched in August 2017 produced massive circular shock acoustic waves in the ionosphere about five minutes after carrying Taiwan’s Formosat 5 satellite.
As a rocket carrying a payload launches directly above the ionosphere, it creates a circular shock wave on the crust.
A study of the phenomenon, published in the journal Space Weather, found that a large hole formed in the ionosphere about 10 minutes into the flight.
The scientists wrote in the study: ‘The rocket plume later produced an ionospheric plasma hole of mass 900 km in diameter with a TET reduction of 10 to 70 percent compared to reference days.’
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What are the potential long-term effects of rocket launches on the ionosphere?
## Punched Through the Ionosphere? A Chat with Dr. Jeff Baumgardner
**Host**: Welcome back to the show, everyone. Today we’re talking about the stunning images of SpaceX’s latest Falcon 9 launch from California and their potential impact on the Earth’s ionosphere. We’re joined by Dr. Jeff Baumgardner, an astrophysicist at Boston University, who has been studying the footage of the launch. Dr. Baumgardner, thank you for joining us.
**Dr. Baumgardner**: It’s my pleasure to be here.
**Host**: So, tell us, what exactly is the ionosphere, and what happened during this latest SpaceX launch?
**Dr. Baumgardner**: The ionosphere is a vital layer of our planet’s atmosphere. Think of it like a sphere of electrically charged particles, stretching from about 80 to 650 kilometers above Earth’s surface. These particles are crucial for radio communications.
Now, as rockets like the Falcon 9 ascend through this layer, their engines release intense heat, which can temporarily disrupt the balance of charged particles, creating something we could call a “hole” in the ionosphere.
**Host:** A “hole”? That sounds alarming.
**Dr. Baumgardner**: It’s important to understand that this phenomenon is well-studied. Rockets disrupting the ionosphere is not new. It’s a consequence of launches, especially when they occur at altitudes where the ionosphere is most dense.
**Host**: So, is this something we should be worried about?
**Dr. Baumgardner**: The long-term effects are still being investigated. The good news is that the ionosphere is dynamic and constantly readjusts. However, with the increasing frequency of rocket launches worldwide, [ [1](https://www.newsweek.com/spacex-rocket-launch-hole-ionosphere-1814503) ], the cumulative impact on the ionosphere needs attention. We need more research to fully understand the long-term consequences.
**Host**: Dr. Baumgardner, this is fascinating. Thank you for shedding light on this complex issue and for joining us today.
**Dr. Baumgardner**: You’re welcome. It’s always a pleasure to discuss the wonders and challenges of space exploration.
**Host**: And thank you to our viewers for tuning in. We’ll be right back after the break.