1001 Rocket Launches for Space Missions and Their Infrasonic Signature

Abstract

Infrasound array processing is applied to monitor and characterize atmospheric explosions in the context of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Anyhow, for many infrasound sources the exact location and time are initially unknown and sometimes difficult to precisely estimate afterwards. In contrast, rocket launches are well-defined groundtruth events generating strong infrasonic signatures. During the last decade, the number of rocket launches for sending satellites into Earths orbit and for reaching space strongly increased. We collected ground-truth information for 1001 rocket launches from 27 global spaceports between 2009 and mid 2020 and were able to identify infrasound signatures from up to 73% of the launches on the International Monitoring System of infrasound stations. We use these unique data to estimate the global detectability of such events, to characterize rocket infrasound, to derive an amplitude-energy relation, and to provide the results for further use as a ground-truth reference in geophysical and atmospheric research.

International Monitoring System infrasound data products for atmospheric studies and civilian applications

“…Section 3 deals with the detection lists summarizing the processing results, which have already been utilized to validate a microbarom model (De Carlo et al, 2021) and to identify signatures of rocket launches for space missions (Pilger et al, 2021b).…”

Natural and Anthropogenic Sources of Seismic, Hydroacoustic, and Infrasonic Waves: Waveforms and Spectral Characteristics (and Their Applicability for Sensor Calibration)

“…Scientific and military rocket launches and re-entries generate infrasound signals that have been detected since more than 50 years (e.g. Kaschak et al 1970 ; Evers et al 2018 ; Pilger et al 2021a ). Publications by Donn et al ( 1968 ), Kaschak et al ( 1970 ), and Balachandran and Donn ( 1971 ) analysed infrasound signals associated with the rocket launches of the early manned spaceflight programme (Saturn V, Apollo).…”

“…Publications by Donn et al ( 1968 ), Kaschak et al ( 1970 ), and Balachandran and Donn ( 1971 ) analysed infrasound signals associated with the rocket launches of the early manned spaceflight programme (Saturn V, Apollo). Olson ( 2012 ) gives an overview of the infrasound signatures of a variety of rockets ranging from small sounding to larger spaceflight rockets, Evers et al ( 2018 ) analyse the infrasound from four rocket launches for military purposes by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in 2009 and 2017, and Pilger et al ( 2021a ) analysed the infrasound signatures of 1001 rocket launches for space missions between 2009 and mid-2020 on infrasound stations of the IMS. Rocket launches represent well-defined ground-truth events, as usually their launch time as well as the trajectory are precisely known (e.g.…”

“…Rocket launches represent well-defined ground-truth events, as usually their launch time as well as the trajectory are precisely known (e.g. McLaughlin et al 2000 ; Pilger et al 2021a ).…”

“…Infrasound signals are generated by ignition, burning, and re-entry of rocket stages (e.g. Pilger et al 2021a ). The principal sources are aeroacoustic energy generated by supersonic engine exhaust and the Mach cone that forms when the rocket reaches supersonic velocities (Kaschak et al 1970 ; Cotten and Donn 1971 ; Blom et al 2016 ; McLaughlin et al 2000 ).…”