SpaceX Starship's explosion led to gigantic hole in Earth's ionosphere
A high-altitude explosion of SpaceX's Starship rocket last year, resulted in a temporary tear in the upper atmosphere, according to a new study by Russian scientists. This incident marks the first time an artificial explosion has caused such atmospheric disruption. The launch took place on November 18, 2023, from SpaceX's Starbase test and manufacturing facility in Boca Chica, Texas.
Unforeseen explosion of Starship's 1st stage
The launch of SpaceX's superheavy Starship rocket, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, was marred by an unexpected explosion. Approximately four minutes post-liftoff, the rocket's first stage detached as planned but exploded before it could land back on Earth. Another explosion occurred around 150km above the ground when a fire ignited as the rocket vented liquid oxygen.
Second explosion created large hole in ionosphere
The second explosion resulted in a temporary but significant hole in the ionosphere, as revealed by a study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. The ionosphere is the part of the atmosphere where gasses have been ionized into plasma. "Usually, such holes are formed as a result of chemical processes in the ionosphere due to interaction with engine fuel," said Yury Yasyukevich, an ionosphere physicist at Russia's Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP).
Hole observed by satellites and ground stations
The ionospheric hole created by the explosion was observed by multiple satellites and international ground-based stations. The disturbance lasted for 30-40 minutes before the affected part of the ionosphere recovered. This rocket explosion resulted in one of the largest holes ever detected in the ionosphere, stretching for thousands of kilometers.
Starship explosions produced shock waves faster than sound
The research team analyzed data from more than 2,500 ground stations across North America and the Caribbean, receiving satellite navigation signals. They discovered that the Starship explosions generated shock waves that traveled faster than the speed of sound. These shock waves transformed a region of the ionosphere into a neutral atmosphere or "hole" for nearly an hour over an area stretching from Mexico's Yucatan peninsula to southeastern US.
