DARPA's AtmoSense program, initiated in late 2020, explores utilizing the Earth's atmosphere as a vast sensor for detecting significant events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and illicit underground explosions. Recent field tests in New Mexico showed that the program could accurately predict controlled explosions, validating its concept. However, an unexpected finding occurred when researchers detected a significant drop in total electron content during the reentry of a Falcon 9 rocket, highlighting the program's unique capabilities and potential implications for military monitoring and national security events.
The unexpected detection of a Falcon 9 reentering the atmosphere was a surprising finding during DARPA's AtmoSense program, aimed at utilizing the Earth's atmosphere as a sensor.
AtmoSense program manager Michael Nayak explains: 'Imagine that you have water going through a hose... if you put your fist in front of the hose, you'll notice a significant drop in water volume.'
The program aims to detect major events through atmospheric wave analysis, revealing the potential military applications for locating national security-relevant events.
Field tests showed that AtmoSense models accurately predicted controlled explosions, thus supporting the feasibility of harnessing atmospheric data for military purposes.
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