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 long-term consequences for radio communication and GPS systems if the frequency of rocket launches continues to increase?
## SpaceX Rockets and the Ionosphere: A Cause for Concern?
**Interviewer:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re diving into a fascinating, yet potentially concerning, development regarding SpaceX launches and their impact on Earth’s ionosphere. Joining us is Dr. [Guest Name], an astrophysicist specializing in atmospheric phenomena. Dr.[Guest Name], thank you for being here.
**Dr. [Guest Name]:** My pleasure.
**Interviewer:** For our viewers who may not be familiar, could you explain what the ionosphere is and why it’s important?
**Dr. [Guest Name]:** Certainly. The ionosphere is a layer of our atmosphere, stretching from about 80 to 650 kilometers above Earth’s surface. It’s composed of electrically charged particles, making it vital for radio communication and navigation systems like GPS.
**Interviewer:** Recent analysis suggests that a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from California may have created a “hole” in this critical layer. How is this possible?
**Dr. [Guest Name]:** When rockets ascend through the atmosphere, the intense heat generated by their engines can disrupt the delicate balance of charged particles in the ionosphere [[1]]. This disruption can create temporary “holes,” affecting radio wave transmission.
**Interviewer:** Is this a new phenomenon, or has this been observed before?
**Dr. [Guest Name]:** While the precise impact of rocket launches on the ionosphere is still being studied, we know that rocket launches can indeed affect this layer [[1]]. As the frequency of launches increases globally, concerns are growing about the potential long-term consequences.
**Interviewer:** What are the potential implications of these “ionospheric holes”?
**Dr. [Guest Name]:** While temporary, these disturbances can disrupt radio communications and GPS signals, potentially affecting everything from aviation to scientific research [[1]]. Further research is crucial to understanding the long-term impact on our planet’s upper atmosphere.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. [Guest Name], for shedding light on this important topic.
**[End Interview]**