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’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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How might the increasing frequency of rocket launches globally affect the ionosphere?
## Interview with Dr. Jeff Baumgardner
**Host:** Welcome back to the show, Dr. Baumgardner. We’re talking today about a recent SpaceX rocket launch and some potentially concerning effects on the Earth’s ionosphere.
**Dr. Baumgardner:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** So, for our audience who may not know, what exactly is the ionosphere and why should we care about it?
**Dr. Baumgardner:** The ionosphere is like a vast layer of electrically charged gas that surrounds our planet. It plays a crucial role in long-distance radio communication by reflecting radio waves back to earth.
**Host:** Now, your research suggests that a recent SpaceX Falcon 9 launch might have created a “hole” in this important layer. Can you elaborate on that?
**Dr. Baumgardner:** It’s entirely possible. Rockets releasing immense heat from their engines at high altitudes – around 200 to 300 kilometers – can disrupt the ionosphere. This disruption can temporarily create low-density regions, what we might refer to as “holes.”
**Host:** Is this a frequent occurrence with rocket launches, or is this something new?
**Dr. Baumgardner:** While the phenomenon is understood, the increasing frequency of rocket launches globally is raising concerns. More launches mean more potential for disruption to the ionosphere, which could potentially impact radio communications and other technologies that rely on it.
**Host:** What are the long-term implications of repeatedly creating these “holes?”
**Dr. Baumgardner:** Continued disruption to the ionosphere’s dynamic balance could potentially interfere with our reliance on radio communications, particularly for long-distance signals. It’s an important area for ongoing research.
**Host:** Dr. Baumgardner, thank you so much for shedding light on this issue. This is clearly a topic with important implications as space exploration and travel continue to grow.
**Dr. Baumgardner:** My pleasure. It’s vital that we understand and address the potential environmental impacts of our growing space ventures.
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