A new study published in the journal *Geophysical Research Letters* details an intriguing event that occurred following the explosion of SpaceX’s Starship rocket during its second orbital test flight. The study, published on August 26, 2023, reveals that the explosion created a temporary hole in Earth’s ionosphere, a region of the atmosphere extending from 50 to 400 miles above the Earth’s surface.
This region is characterized by the presence of plasma, a state of matter where gases have been stripped of electrons. Researchers observed a unique disturbance in the ionosphere following the Starship explosion. Multiple ground-based instruments and satellites detected the disturbance in the area where the rocket exploded, lasting for approximately 30 to 40 minutes before the ionosphere fully recovered.
While ionospheric holes are not entirely new, traditionally they are caused by the explosion of chemical rockets. In these cases, chemical reactions involving carbon dioxide and water vapor lead to the reformation of ionized oxygen atoms into normal oxygen atoms, creating a ‘hole’ in the plasma sea of the ionosphere. However, the Starship explosion produced a hole through a different mechanism.
The researchers discovered that the shock wave generated by the explosion temporarily disrupted the normal properties of the plasma within the affected region of space. This shock wave, rather than chemical reactions, created the ionospheric hole. Furthermore, the study suggests that any fuel not immediately consumed in the explosion might have prolonged the duration of the hole.
This incident represents the first recorded instance of a human-made explosion creating an ionospheric hole through a ‘catastrophic phenomena.’ The study underscores the significant impact of human activity on the Earth’s atmosphere and the need for further investigation into the potential consequences of space exploration endeavors.
