SLS rocket

NASA's SLS rocket, launched for the Artemis II mission, is reported to have punched a hole in the upper atmosphere, disturbing the ionosphere with a measured impact of about 3.7 TECU. Observers note no GPS outages resulted from the disturbance, and the effect was temporary, but the finding has drawn attention to how powerful rocket launches alter the charged particle layer that radio and satellite navigation signals pass through.

NASA's Artemis II moon mission launch reportedly tore a massive hole in Earth's upper atmosphere, large enough to disrupt GPS signals. The SLS rocket's exhaust is said to have disturbed the ionosphere as it blasted toward the Moon, briefly interfering with satellite navigation. The finding is drawing attention for showing how powerful rocket launches can affect technology on the ground.

The core stage of the Space Launch System rocket for NASA's Artemis III mission has been joined with its twin solid rocket boosters, forming a stack about 212 feet tall. The assembly is a key step toward the planned 2026 launch, which aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface.