SpaceX Starship explosion rips hole on Earth’s surface

‘Usually, such holes are formed as a result of chemical processes in ionosphere due to interaction with engine fuel,’ scientists say
An undated image of SpaceX Starship. — NASA
An undated image of SpaceX Starship. — NASA

SpaceX launched the Starship rocket on November 18, 2023, from the Boca Chica facility in Texas but unfortunately right after four minutes of launching the Starship's superheavy booster detonated at an altitude of around 56 miles after passing the second stage, which was later on followed by another explosion, and when the surviving portion reached to the height of almost 93 miles, it eventually caught fire. 

A research was conducted by Geophysical Research Letters led by Yury Yasyukevich at the Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics, where the scientist highlighted a fact that how human-made detonations can influence the Earth’s atmosphere.

Yasyukevich stated: “Usually, such holes are formed as a result of chemical processes in the ionosphere due to interaction with engine fuel." 

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These catastrophes tore a temporary hole in Earth’s upper atmosphere known as the ionosphere, where charged particles, lost electrons due to solar radiation, ripping a final boundary between the Earth and the vacuum space. 

Additionally, the total length of the ionosphere is almost 50 to 400 miles above the Earth. Reports suggested that the velocity of Starship was expedited, which was travelling greater to the speed of sound and due to the higher velocity, it sent auditory shock waves through the region.

Though the hole only remained for 30-40 minutes, its circumstances were quite distinctive and worthy to witness. Moreover, it’s a ubiquitous event which occurs, as the exhaust from rocket launches causes the electrons to lose their charge. 

Starship's fiery demise provided a rare glimpse of how the ionosphere is impacted by such events, especially weaker ones, which can be difficult to detect, Yasyukevich added.