NASA's Artemis II moon launch tore a hole in Earth's upper atmosphere so huge it disrupted GPS signals

On November 16, 2023, NASA’s Artemis II mission experienced an unexpected and significant atmospheric disruption during its initial ascent stage burn. The event created a massive cavity within Earth’s upper atmosphere, estimated to be approximately 80 miles wide and 75 miles long. This unprecedented anomaly occurred over the Pacific Ocean, roughly 900 nautical miles southwest of North Island, New Zealand. Scientists at Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) detected disruptions in GPS signals coinciding with the launch's trajectory. Experts believe this incident highlights potential vulnerabilities in satellite navigation systems due to extreme rocket launches.