An explosion that leaves an invisible mark in the sky. This is what happened on November 18, 2023, during the launch of Starship by SpaceX. The most powerful rocket ever built didn't just explode; it punctured a hole in the upper atmosphere.
After climbing for a few minutes, the Starship generated unusual shockwaves. These cone-shaped waves propagated through the ionosphere up to 1,240 miles (2000 km), according to a recent study published in
Geophysical Research Letters.
View of the separation using the "hot staging" technique during the second flight. Three of the booster's engines are still running, while the upper stage, the Starship vessel, has already ignited its own engines.
Image SpaceX
The separation of the main stage, followed by an initial explosion at an altitude of 56 miles (90 km), preceded the Starship's explosion at 93 miles (149 km). This double explosion caused an unexpected decrease in electrons in the ionosphere.
This observed phenomenon is rare. Unlike the usual holes created by chemical reactions with rocket exhaust gases, this one seems to have been caused by the shockwaves from the explosions. This distortion was detected by thousands of ground stations. Researchers noted that these disturbances lasted between 30 and 40 minutes, much longer than expected.
The shockwaves generated by the Starship dispersed free electrons in the ionosphere, creating a plasma-depleted region. This phenomenon had never been observed before for a human-made explosion.
Scientists remind us that these holes can disrupt satellite communications and positioning systems, highlighting how our space ambitions can have unforeseen repercussions on our atmosphere. As space exploration constantly pushes its boundaries further, this incident raises questions about the impact of our activities on the upper layers of Earth's atmosphere.
What is the ionosphere?
The ionosphere is a layer of Earth's atmosphere situated between about 37 miles and 620 miles (60 km to 1000 km) in altitude. It is particularly rich in ionized particles, meaning atoms and molecules that have lost or gained an electron.
This region plays a crucial role in the propagation of radio waves. The charged particles in the ionosphere can reflect or refract these waves, enabling long-distance communications, particularly by radio.
The ionosphere is sensitive to variations in solar activity. Solar flares, for example, can cause disturbances, affecting communications and the operation of satellite navigation systems.
SpaceX's Starship / Elon Musk
The Starship is a rocket developed by SpaceX, the company owned by billionaire Elon Musk, designed to be fully reusable. With its massive architecture, it is the most powerful rocket ever built, capable of carrying large payloads and crews to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The Starship consists of two stages: the Super Heavy, a first-stage booster responsible for the initial phase of ascent, and the Starship itself, the second stage that continues the journey to orbit or the final destination. This vehicle is designed to autonomously land, allowing for its reuse in multiple missions.
The ultimate goal of Starship is to make space travel more affordable and to pave the way for the colonization of other planets, particularly Mars, by transporting dozens of astronauts and large amounts of equipment in a single trip. The project represents a major step in SpaceX's ambition to make humanity multi-planetary.
Article Author: Cédric DEPOND