Identifying rocket launches for space missions using infrasound detections across the IMS

During the last 20 years, an increasing number of rocket launches for space missions per year was conducted from various space ports all around the world. These missions were mainly launched to place satellites in Earth’s orbit, but also for space station flights and the exploration of the Moon and other bodies in the solar system.  

Rocket launches can be detected at infrasound arrays in thousands of kilometers distance. We use infrasound data from stations of the International Monitoring System (IMS) for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) to identify and characterize rocket launches all over the world.

We present selected cases of interest, including the latest NASA Artemis 1 Space Launch System and SpaceX Starship launches as well as airborne rocket starts and small-lift launches by different companies. Furthermore, we highlight a systematic analysis of infrasound recorded from multiple and regularly launched vehicles like Ariane 5, Falcon 9, and various Soyuz and Long March rocket types.