NASA's Artemis II rocket tore giant holes in the atmosphere and they could have broken GPS

Date:
Thu, 05 Nov 2026 16:35:13 +0000

Description:
We've never seen rips in the ionosphere like this before, and researchers are still looking at the potential impacts.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Researchers report on 3 huge 'perturbations' caused by Artemis II The rips in the ionosphere could affect GPS systems Further study is needed to assess the impact of the rocket launch The April 2026 Artemis II mission marked the first time humans have been in lunar space since 1972, and scientists are still picking through the masses
of data collected along the way. New research set to be published in Geophysical Research Letters has now revealed some unprecedented tears the rocket launch ripped in our upper atmosphere.

Known as the ionosphere, this layer is bombarded with solar radiation,
causing it to be packed with free electrons and positively charged ions a
mix which means it has a strong influence on radio waves, such as signals
sent by Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellites, including the Global Positioning System (GPS). The study team found that Artemis II triggered three separate disturbances in the ionosphere, all directly above North America, and measuring more than 5,000 kilometers (3,106 miles) in
size. These pulse waves were caused by the initial rocket launch, and then by upper-stage orbital engines firing directly in the upper atmosphere. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

It's a more powerful barrage of atmospheric disruption than we've seen from any previous rocket launch, including those launched by SpaceX, and it gives scientists important context on human-made 'space weather' disturbances in the atmosphere that have the potential to interfere with ground
infrastructure . GPS disruption on the ground The Artemis II has lift-off (Image credit: NASA / Bill Ingalls) While it's worth noting that this study didn't directly measure any disruption in GNSS or GPS systems it's something the team hopes to follow up on later the sort of disturbances recorded here have the potential to cause significant, if temporary, shifts in our navigation systems. You may like Researchers report on a solar storm that caused a serious GPS glitch Quantum navigation set to replace GPS as Q-CTRL, US Department of War, and Saab achieve separate successful trials within
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"A positioning error of a couple of meters is enough to cause an autonomous car to change lanes," study author and earth scientist Charles Lin, from National Cheng Kung University, in Taiwan, told Space.com . "It could have a strong impact not only on self-driving cars but also on drone positioning."

"Though space launches often induce ionosphere disturbances, the Artemis-II Lunar mission for the first time produced extremely rare reoccurring perturbations over the same geographic region on three different occasions," write the researchers, while also suggesting it "will be essential to assess" future impacts from rockets on the ionosphere. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

The impact of the ionosphere disruptions on GPS and GNSS are what the researchers are planning to look at next, including to what degree errors might have been introduced, and how long they lasted for. The results are likely to be vital in planning future rocket launches and maneuvers. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best laptops for all budgets
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/science/space/nasas-artemis-ii-rocket-tore-5-000km-h oles-in-the-atmosphere-causing-gps-disruptions-powerful-enough-to-force-self-d riving-cars-to-change-lanes


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