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.
This section contains related reference points (Related Nodes field).
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 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.’
#hole #Earths #ionosphere #feared #SpaceX #rocket
What are the potential long-term consequences of the increasing frequency of rocket launches on the Earth’s ionosphere?
## Interview
**News Anchor:** Welcome back. Joining us today is Dr. Emily Carter, a physicist specializing in atmospheric science, to discuss a recent study about the potential impact of rocket launches on the Earth’s ionosphere. Dr. Carter, thanks for joining us.
**Dr. Carter:** It’s a pleasure to be here.
**News Anchor:** So, a recent SpaceX launch has reportedly created a hole in the ionosphere. Could you explain to our viewers what the ionosphere is and why this is concerning?
**Dr. Carter:** Sure. The ionosphere is a region of our upper atmosphere, about 80 to 650 kilometers above Earth. It’s special because it’s filled with charged particles, or plasma, which are influenced by solar radiation. This makes the ionosphere critical for radio communication because it helps bounce radio waves back to Earth.
**News Anchor:** And this hole, what does it mean?
**Dr. Carter:** Well, research suggests that the intense heat from rocket launches can disrupt the balance of charged particles in the ionosphere, essentially creating a temporary ”hole” where the density of these particles is significantly reduced.
**News Anchor:** This particular launch by SpaceX, was it unusual or are these holes becoming more common?
**Dr. Carter:** It’s not necessarily unusual. Rocket launches, regardless of the company, can have this effect. [[1](https://earthsky.org/todays-image/spacex-launch-punches-a-hole-in-the-ionosphere-red-blob/)] But what’s concerning is the increasing frequency of launches globally. As more rockets ascend through this crucial atmospheric layer, we could see more frequent and potentially larger disturbances to the ionosphere.
**News Anchor:** What are the potential consequences of these disruptions?
**Dr. Carter:**
The long-term implications are still being studied. However, disruptions to the ionosphere could potentially interfere with radio communication, navigation systems, and even satellite operations.
**News Anchor:**
Fascinating. Dr. Carter, thank you so much for shedding light on this important topic. This is certainly something to keep an eye on as space exploration continues to accelerate.
**Dr. Carter:**
My pleasure.