Ionospheric Disturbances in GNSS TEC Data: SpaceX Falcon 9 Deorbit Maneuvers Over CONUS in April–May 2024
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) driven by a large number of internal and external sources are detectable with dense networks of ground‐based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers' measurements of total electron content (TEC). We present the newly developed System for Rapid Analysis of Ionospheric Dynamics (S‐RAID), providing data and visual GNSS TEC products of TIDs of periods 2–120 min and horizontal resolution up to tens of kilometers for years 2017–2024. The S‐RAID data reveal myriad natural and anthropogenic TIDs from meteorology and space weather, and from human spaceflight activities. In this report, we focus on new prominent disturbances found during SpaceX second stage deorbit maneuvers in April–May 2024. Signatures include waves emanating from the Falcon's trajectory above California and depletions following its deorbit and passage over Arizona. These findings suggest further opportunities to detect and quantify small‐scale events in the ionosphere as well as to understand the responses of the atmosphere‐ionosphere system to known inputs.
Source: Geophysical Research Letters
DOI: 10.1029/2024gl112364
Institutions: Computational Physics (United States), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach Florida Campus, Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base, U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,190
OpenAlex ID: W4409504684