Last year, one company alone, SpaceX, launched almost 100 rockets. Compared to the number of airplanes that fly every year, this number may seem insignificant, but the effects rocket pollution has on the earth are far greater. One paper found that compared to soot from airplanes, soot from rockets warms the atmosphere around 500 times faster. Several other problems are caused by rocket pollution. When the spacecrafts disintegrate as they fall back to Earth, metals get caught in the atmosphere. In addition, two thirds of the rocket’s exhaust ends up in the stratosphere which may cause heat to be blocked from reaching Earth. It also causes holes in the ozone layer. While the holes have fixed themselves naturally so far, an increasing number of rocket launches could lead to a greater risk of skin cancer, cataracts, and immune disorders.
Experts in the environmental field worry that the consequences of rocket launches are not fully understood yet and about the lack of regulations set concerning pollution. While they do not want to hinder the space economy, they do suggest limiting the number of launches and changing the materials and fuel. On the bright side, several major companies launching rockets have issued statements about working to be sustainable. Despite being responsible for a large number of rocket launches, SpaceX is at least following through on its promise by creating the Falcon 9 booster, which can be reused 10 times. Reusable rockets are more cost effective and better for the environment as they use less fuel. Balancing scientific discovery with its environmental impacts is challenging when there are competing interests, but hopefully the industry can work out a compromise and effectively transition into launching rockets in a more environmentally friendly manner.
Sources
www.nytimes.com/2024/01/09/science/rocket-pollution-spacex-satellites.html
www.kdcresource.com/insights-events/the-rise-of-reusable-rockets-transforming-the-economics-of-space-travel
https://media.wired.com/photos/59443ccf36ebbc129f7410e0/master/pass/Rocket-Art-531752474.jpg
