--- title: "Scientists Warn That SpaceX Launches Are Tearing Small Holes in the Sky" description: "SpaceX rockets are tearing huge holes in the Earth's atmosphere as they make their return to the surface, triggering \"SpaceX auroras.\"" date: "2023-11-30" modified: "2023-11-30" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-launches-holes-sky" categories: - "Space" - "SpaceX" tags: - "ionosphere" - "rocket launches" - "SpaceX" - "the digest" --- # Scientists Warn That SpaceX Launches Are Tearing Small Holes in the Sky ![SpaceX rockets are tearing huge holes in the Earth's atmosphere as they make their return to the surface, triggering "SpaceX auroras."]() *\Image: Red Huber/Getty Images\* ## SpaceX Created SpaceX rockets are tearing holes in the Earth's atmosphere as they make their return to the surface, triggering what scientists are calling "SpaceX auroras," a newly coined term that refers to red, spherical spots in the night sky that can easily be seen with the naked eye. As [*Spaceweather.com* reports](), the name isn't entirely accurate as they're technically not auroras. They're the result of SpaceX rockets burning their engines in the Earth's ionosphere, a part of the upper atmosphere where solar radiation [ionizes atoms]() and molecules to create a protective layer of electrons. That means that as the rocketmaker ratchets up its launch schedule, that could be a problem, because the ionosphere serves an important technical function by ensuring the stability of shortwave radio communication and GPS signals. However, the full effects of these "auroras" are still not entirely understood. "The frequency of these red clouds could increase as SpaceX targets more launches in the future," Stephen Hummel of the McDonald Observatory in Austin, Texas, told *Spaceweather.com*. "Their impact on astronomical science is still being evaluated," he added. "Starlink satellites are a known issue, but the effects of the rocket launches themselves are a growing area of attention." ## Hole Puncher It's a significant phenomenon that's fairly unique to SpaceX's rockets, which can burn their thrusters to land back on the ground. "During the burn, the engine releases about 400lbs of exhaust gasses, mostly water and carbon dioxide," Jeff Baumgardner, who [custom-built]() an instrument at the McDonald Observatory told *Spaceweather.com.* "All this happens at \[around 186 miles\] altitude, near the peak of the ionosphere, so a significant hole is made." Other experts see these red holes in the sky as a rare opportunity. "We are delighted with the rocket burns," he added. "They give us an opportunity to explore how space traffic affects the ionosphere." **More on SpaceX:** *[Elon Musk Unveils Plans for Next Version of Starship]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()