How DARPA Unintentionally Discovered SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket’s Reentry by Listening to Earth’s Atmosphere

Researchers from DARPA, the U.S. military’s tech innovation arm, have made an exciting breakthrough. They’ve used Earth’s atmosphere as a sensor to detect disturbances far away. This project, called AtmoSense, is exploring how sound waves and electromagnetic frequencies travel through our atmosphere. The goal? To use these waves as a global sensor to identify events like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Recently, the team studied waves from controlled explosions in New Mexico and stumbled upon an unexpected finding. They noticed they could also detect disturbances caused by the reentry of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. According to Michael Nayak, the program manager for AtmoSense, this method is consistent. They’ve found a new way to identify objects entering the atmosphere.

Nayak likens the technique to water flowing through a hose. “If you block the flow, you’ll see a noticeable drop in the amount of water coming out,” he explained. Similarly, changes in the flow of electrons in the atmosphere can signal disturbances.

After identifying a dip in the electron flow, the team traced it back to the Falcon 9 reentry event that occurred that same day. This finding means AtmoSense can detect not only ground disturbances but also those happening above the Earth’s surface. Research suggests that being able to identify such events is vital for national security.

Given the increasing number of rockets being launched, this technology could play a key role. In 2022 alone, SpaceX launched 61 Falcon 9 missions, a significant increase from previous years. As commercial space launches grow, the ability to monitor atmospheric changes caused by these activities will become even more critical.

Researchers are gearing up for a virtual workshop in April to share their findings with the scientific community and those involved in national security. The vision for AtmoSense is ambitious; they hope to detect atmospheric waves from events happening anywhere in the world.

In essence, AtmoSense is not just about monitoring the Earth but also about safeguarding it. This innovation could redefine how we respond to natural and man-made events globally, making our world a little safer.

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