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Artemis II launch tore a hole in Earth's atmosphere, say scientists
BBC Sky at Night Magazine • • general
Key Points:
- NASA's Artemis II mission, launched on April 1, 2026, caused significant disturbances in Earth's ionosphere, stronger than any previous rocket launches, according to a study by National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan.
- The study identified three distinct ionospheric disturbances linked to the Artemis II launch and its upper-stage engine burns, with the most intense occurring during the apogee raise burn, affecting a large area across North America.
- These disturbances have the potential to disrupt GPS signals and other communications, posing risks to technologies reliant on precise positioning, such as self-driving cars and drones.
- While Artemis II did not cause widespread GPS failures, the research highlights concerns about the increasing frequency and power of future rocket launches and their possible impact on Earth's communication infrastructure.
- Artemis II marked a milestone as the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo, completing a nine-day journey around the Moon and back, advancing NASA's goal of establishing a permanent human presence on the lunar surface.
