Artemis II launch reveals how USF scientists are shaping space research

By Joey Garcia, University Communications and Marketing 

As millions watched Artemis II lift off from Kennedy Space Center, USF scientists
remained on the ground, capturing rare seismic and infrasound data—insights that inform
launch impacts on Earth.

USF researchers are no strangers to working with rocket launches. Over the past decade,
the USF Seismology group, has recorded data from roughly 140 launches at Kennedy Space
Center—a project led by Research Assistant Professor Glenn Thompson from the from the School of Geosciences in collaboration with NASA. Most of those launches were Falcon 9 rockets, which are
known to be less intense. 

Artemis II, however, marked a shift in scale.

Research Assistant Professor Glenn Thompson 

USF faculty and students have conducted seismic research at Kennedy Space Center for
10 years

LISTENING TO ROCKETS THROUGH THE GROUND AND AIR

Thompson and his team studied the Artemis II launch with the same seismic sensors
used to record ground motion generated by earthquakes and volcanic activity. They
also used infrasound sensors, which detect very low-frequency sound waves in the air
that humans cannot hear but feel as vibrations.

Understanding how these rockets affect ground motion and sound pressure levels benefits
a wide range of groups. Structural engineers use this information to assess infrastructure
resilience. Wildlife biologists and ecologists study potential environmental impacts,
while archaeologists consider possible effects on cultural and historical sites.

USF had 12 seismic and infrasound stations surrounding the launchpad 

Seismic and infrasound station contains sensors and recording equipment used during
the Artemis II launch

“For Artemis II, we deployed a record 12 seismic and infrasound stations surrounding
the launch site within a 10-mile radius,” Thompson said. “This allows us to study
what happens when powerful sound waves in the atmosphere interact with the ground
at this scale.”

When the rocket ignites while connected to the launch tower, it generates direct seismic
energy that travels quickly through the ground at several miles per second. However,
a much larger effect comes from the rocket’s intense jet noise, which produces powerful
sound and infrasound waves. As those waves strike the ground, they generate vibrations
that dominate the direct seismic signals recorded near the launch pad.

“We’re essentially listening to the rocket through the atmosphere and the ground at
the same time,” Thompson said. “As rockets become more powerful and launches more
frequent, having precise measurements allows these groups to evaluate impacts responsibly
and ensure that launch activity remains safe and sustainable.” 

A UNIQUE SEISMIC DATASET 

To better understand what’s happening underground, researchers used the Artemis II
launch as a powerful, large-scale energy source. 

“By recording low-frequency sound waves and ground motion at the same locations, we
can separate the sound from the seismic data,” Thompson said. “That lets us focus
on how the ground itself responds to pressure, helping us better understand what’s
happening below the surface.”

To further strengthen the dataset, Thompson deployed state-of-the-art nodal seismic
and infrasound sensors borrowed from the EarthScope Consortium and Boise State University.

Spectrogram showing ground vibrations from the Artemis II launch, with the strongest
energy occurring in the first 30 seconds after liftoff 

Infrasound data showing powerful sound waves from the Artemis II launch recorded about
one mile from the launchpad

Those instruments recorded peak pressure levels of about 600 pascals, equivalent to
roughly 146 decibels. The Artemis II launch is among the strongest signals the team
has ever measured. For comparison, those levels slightly exceed what researchers observed
during a Falcon Heavy launch and are roughly four to five times higher than a typical
Falcon 9 launch, reflecting the far greater power of NASA’s Space Launch System.

Researchers will use this data to improve geological models beneath Cape Canaveral
and Merritt Island and better understand how increasingly powerful launches may affect
surrounding environments.

USF FIELDWORK LEADS TO LUNAR SCIENCE LEADERSHIP

 Thompson’s work at Kennedy Space Center has also focused on training students through
hands-on field deployments.

“Over the years, I’ve taken dozens of students into the field, giving them hands-on
experience deploying and maintaining seismic networks and using the data in classroom
settings,” Thompson said. “Many have gone on to careers in seismic monitoring and
volcano observatories.”

One participant in the first 2016 deployment was USF alum Jacob Richardson, now the
deputy lunar science lead on the Artemis II lunar science team. His group has spent
more than a year preparing observation strategies, including potential views of unexplored
regions on the moon’s far side. 

“Jacob volunteered for that first deployment and was already an exceptional researcher,”
Thompson said. “It’s wonderful to see a former USF Geosciences student playing such
a big role in the Artemis program.”

STRONGER SEISMIC RESEARCH 

The Artemis II deployment is just the beginning of Thompson’s next phase of seismic
research. He is part of a NASA proposal to scale up the effort, deploying at least
75 seismic and infrasound stations ahead of a future SpaceX Starship launch from Kennedy
Space Center, a vehicle expected to surpass the Artemis II launch system’s power. 
 
The project is led by Paul Bremner at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, with key
collaborators including Aiden Woo (NASA marshall) and Sue Bilek (New Mexico Tech).

“The Artemis II deployment served as an important test run, allowing us to gain experience
deploying the equipment, recovering it and processing the data,” Thompson said. “The
lessons learned and workflows developed will directly support the larger project.”