On July 19, SpaceX, the space technology firm led by Elon Musk, launched 15 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, using a Falcon 9 rocket. A well-studied phenomenon occurred during the launch where a hole might have been created in Earth’s ionosphere due to the rocket’s engine burning 200 to 300 km above the planet’s surface, explains space physicist Jeff Baumgardner. The ionosphere, a charged part of Earth’s atmosphere, is essential for communication and navigation as it aids the travel of radio and GPS signals. Changes in the ionosphere’s composition and density can … Continue reading SpaceX’s Starlit Disruption: Unveiling the Ionospheric Impact of Rocket Launches