NASA Artemis II Launch Disrupted GPS Signals

A new study indicates that NASA's April 2026 Artemis II mission caused significant disturbances in Earth's ionosphere, potentially triggering temporary errors of several meters in GPS positioning. Researchers from National Cheng Kung University analyzed data from ground-based networks to reconstruct how the Space Launch System rocket altered free electron concentrations at altitudes above 50 kilometers. The resulting disruptions were found to be up to ten times more intense than those observed after SpaceX's Starship test launches, affecting regions roughly 3,100 miles across North America. While these ionospheric changes are comparable in scale to positioning errors seen during tectonic plate monitoring or self-driving car navigation, the true long-term impact remains unclear as signals travel through this electrically charged layer.