Don't Litter in my Space: The Surprising Eco Impacts of Launching Rockets

When people hear that NASA is launching a rocket or that SpaceX is sending a new satellite to space, the mind often thinks about the moon, other galaxies, or even aliens. Rocket ships appeal to different types of people in so many different ways; they can feel like a fantasy to kids and intriguing for engineers or astronomers. Regardless of their interest, a rocket ship has a place in the vast majority's mind.

One aspect that is not talked about very commonly is the environmental impact of launching rockets.

Kevin Krajick in his article states that in 2016, there were only a total of 221 objects launched into space. In contrast, Elon Musk has a goal to have 40,000 satellites in orbit. A downside to having so many satellites is that sometimes metal hunks break away and orbit around the Earth. It's estimated that there are around 130 million pieces of 'space junk' just floating around.

By 2050, there could be a range of 1000 to even 10,0000 launches a year. The thought of that amount of space debris is staggering.

Click here to read his article: Columbia Climate School

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Deven's Reflections:

There are several environmental issues with launching a rocket. One is the immediate, local effects on a community such as 'sheet metal hail,' where parts of the rocket that fall off the during take essentially 'rain' from the sky. So far, it's been harmless, but they have landed in places like Kenya, Florida, and North Carolina. There are also the long term effects (air pollution) that mostly have to do with disrupting the ozone layer. There isn't a perfect solution to these issues, but there are better alternatives. The current fuel used for rockets that are also often used for cars is Kerosene. Once Kerosene is burned it leaves behind a black carbon that has a relatively long life in the atmosphere. Its also well known that black carbon absorbs solar radiation and heats up the environment around it. An alternative fuel source is LNG (liquified natural gas). Although it is still harmful, it is more efficient and is better than Kerosene pollution wise. This is just one small fix among the many that large companies can make to contribute to a healthier Earth. At the end of it all, I think it's crucial to keep exploring the boundaries of space, but in an Eco Friendly way.