Meghan Hodges
While NASA and other space agencies have been at the forefront of scientific discovery and innovation, their activities have also contributed to environmental concerns. Rocket launches, satellite reentries, and space debris have all been identified as sources of pollution, with potential impacts on the atmosphere, climate, and ozone layer. With the growing interest in space tourism and an increasing number of launches, the cumulative effect of these activities on the environment is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed. This raises important questions about the responsibility of space agencies and companies in mitigating their environmental footprint and exploring more sustainable alternatives.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel used by rockets | Kerosene, liquid oxygen, methane, hydrogen, UDMH, bio-propane |
| Climate-changing pollution per passenger | 100 times more than an airline passenger |
| CO2 emissions per passenger | 50-75 tonnes |
| CO2 emissions per passenger (for a typical long-haul flight) | 1-3 tonnes |
| Number of orbital launches in 2020 | 114 |
| Number of orbital launches in 2022 | 180 |
| Number of Falcon 9 launches in 2022 | 61 |
| Projected market size of the space tourism industry in 2031 | $2.58 billion |
| Projected annual re-entry of material, mostly satellites, into the atmosphere in about a decade | 16,000T |
| Pollutants emitted by rocket launches | Carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapour, nitrogen oxides, alumina particles, chlorine, black carbon, soot |
| Impact of rocket launches on ground-level air quality | Insignificant |
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What You'll Learn
Rocket launches and pollution
Rocket launches are an integral part of the 21st century. However, they have been found to cause significant pollution, which has been accelerating climate change. The world's oldest spaceport, the Baikonur Cosmodrome, has created a large zone of pollution due to the toxic rocket fuel seeping into the soil. The fuel used by rockets that blasted off from Baikonur was UDMH (unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine), which was highly carcinogenic to humans and turned a large area of the Kazakh Steppe into an ecological disaster zone.
Rocket launches have been found to emit various pollutants, including carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapour, nitrogen oxides, alumina particles, and chlorine. While rocket launches emit less CO2 than the aviation industry, the soot and other particles created by burning rocket fuel are injected directly into the stratosphere, where they can remain for up to five years. During this time, they absorb heat, contributing to climate change, and damage the ozone layer, exposing the planet to dangerous ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
The impact of rocket emissions on the atmosphere is still not fully understood, and there is a great deal of uncertainty about their effects. However, scientists have found that certain gases and particles emitted during rocket launches can have detrimental effects on the environment. For example, water vapour released into the stratosphere can act as a greenhouse gas, and chlorine emissions have been shown to create holes in the ozone layer.
Some companies are experimenting with new types of fuel that may burn cleaner, such as bio-propane, a renewable biofuel, and methane-based fuels, which produce less soot. NASA is also exploring new ways of launching satellites horizontally or in a slingshot motion to reduce the industry's atmospheric impact.
As the space tourism industry grows, it is important to recognize the environmental risks associated with rocket launches and take preventive measures to reduce their impact on the environment.
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The impact of rocket fuel
Rocket fuel is a major contributor to the environmental impact of space launches. The composition of rocket propellants determines the kind of air pollutants emitted during the launch process.
One of the most commonly used rocket fuels is kerosene, which is burned with liquid oxygen to produce thrust. This combination is used by SpaceX's Falcon 9, the most frequently launched rocket in the world, with 61 launches in 2022 alone. Kerosene produces black carbon, soot-like grains that are thrown out in the exhaust and injected directly into the stratosphere. There, the soot lingers for up to five years, absorbing heat, contributing to climate change, and damaging the ozone layer. This exposes the planet to dangerous ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Liquid hydrogen fuel is considered a cleaner alternative to kerosene. Its exhaust is almost entirely made of water vapour, which has zero impact on the atmosphere, according to some experts. However, the production of hydrogen can cause significant carbon emissions, and liquid hydrogen fuel has low energy density, requiring large tanks to lift a rocket off the ground.
Another fuel option is methane, which has a burning efficiency of up to 99.5%. This high efficiency means that the residues of methane are minimal, with only a small amount of carbon monoxide released instead of carbon dioxide. Methane engines are also expected to produce less soot than kerosene engines. However, methane is frequently transported in the form of gas, which may leak into the atmosphere from gas pipes.
Bio-propane is another renewable biofuel that is being explored as a potential rocket fuel. It is created as a waste product from the production of biodiesel and has the potential to significantly reduce emissions and soot production compared to traditional rocket fuels.
While rocket launches are relatively infrequent compared to airplane flights, the space tourism industry is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. As a result, the impact of rocket fuel emissions on the environment is likely to become more pronounced, and preventive measures and interventions are key to mitigating this impact.
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Climate change and NASA
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing humanity today, and NASA, as a major player in space exploration, has a significant role in understanding and mitigating its impacts. While NASA has made significant contributions to climate science and mitigation technologies, its activities, particularly rocket launches, have also contributed to pollution and climate change.
NASA's rocket launches have been a source of pollution, especially in the past when less environmentally friendly fuels were used. For example, the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, which was once a Soviet spaceport, has left a large zone of pollution due to toxic rocket fuel seeping into the soil. The fuel used at this site, UDMH (unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine), was highly carcinogenic and dubbed "devil's venom" by scientists.
However, NASA and other space agencies have been working to reduce the environmental impact of their activities. For instance, NASA's Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which uses a mixture of liquid oxygen and kerosene, produces water emissions, which are considered "cleaner" as they don't emit CO2. While this is an improvement, the black soot created by burning kerosene is injected directly into the stratosphere, where it can linger for up to five years, contributing to climate change and damaging the ozone layer.
Additionally, NASA and other space agencies are exploring alternative fuels and launch methods to reduce their environmental footprint further. For example, Orbex is developing a rocket that runs on bio-propane, a renewable biofuel, which is expected to produce 90% fewer emissions than traditional RP-1-fuelled launches. Virgin Orbit is also investigating the use of sustainable rocket fuels and alternative launch methods, such as horizontal launches.
While NASA's activities have contributed to pollution and climate change, the space industry as a whole, including commercial space travel and tourism, is expected to have a much larger impact in the future. The increasing frequency of rocket launches and the projected growth of the space tourism industry will likely exacerbate the environmental impacts. Therefore, preventive measures and interventions are key to ensuring that space exploration can continue while minimizing harm to the environment.
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The environmental impact of space tourism
The extent of the environmental impact of space tourism is difficult to determine due to a lack of data surrounding propellant emissions and air quality around launch sites. However, a 2022 study found that space tourism produces black carbon particles that are almost 500 times more efficient at warming the atmosphere than all surface and airline sources of soot combined. These particles remain in the upper atmosphere for up to five years, circulating in a fine layer that absorbs solar radiation while blocking it from reaching Earth's surface. A Virgin Galactic flight, for example, generates emissions equivalent to a ten-hour transatlantic commercial flight. However, the latter carries hundreds of passengers, while Virgin Galactic flights are limited to six passengers, resulting in a per-person carbon emission of 4.5 tonnes, more than twice the recommended annual individual carbon budget.
The propellants used in rockets determine the kind of air pollutants emitted during launch. While liquid oxygen does not harm the skies, the black soot created by burning kerosene or hydrocarbon fuels directly impacts the ozone layer. Even clean, hydrogen-based rockets emit nitrogen and water vapour, resulting in bright, long-lasting clouds in the upper atmosphere that could create a cooling or heating effect, depending on the conditions. Every rocket launch creates a small, short-lived hole in the ozone layer. The impact of these emissions on the climate and composition of the stratosphere is an area of ongoing research.
The space tourism industry is growing, with current estimates putting the market at $2.58 billion in 2031, with a 17.15% growth rate each year over the next decade. As the industry expands, the environmental impact will become more significant. Preventive measures and interventions are crucial to mitigating the industry's environmental footprint. Companies like Virgin Orbit are exploring the use of sustainable rocket fuels, while NASA is investigating new ways of launching satellites horizontally or using a slingshot method. While space tourism offers transformative experiences and unique perspectives on our planet, it is essential to address the disproportionate impact of this industry on the environment and strive for more sustainable practices.
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NASA's efforts to reduce pollution
While NASA has not disclosed how much pollution it creates, the organisation has been involved in the study of air quality for decades, using ground sensors and satellites to create a time series of global data records that are critical to understanding the impacts and causes of air pollution and designing solutions.
NASA's Earth-observing satellites can identify potentially harmful pollutants in the air and help measure and track air pollution as it moves around the globe. This has contributed significantly to the decades-long quest for cleaner air. NASA's data has also helped identify reductions in atmospheric carbon concentrations in some parts of the world through improved land stewardship and reforestation.
NASA has also developed the Instant Emissions Test Technology, which can measure atmospheric carbon dioxide from a satellite with enough sensitivity and reliability to measure emissions from passing vehicles. A company is working to enable municipalities to use the NASA sensor to monitor vehicle pollution. NASA's work in solar cell technology for space has also led to advances in solar cells now available for renewable energy on Earth.
NASA has also helped develop a detailed energy "dashboard" to monitor energy generated by renewable sources and consumed by systems and devices. This dashboard is now used by corporate campuses across Silicon Valley and beyond to reduce consumption. Additionally, NASA engineer Richard Whitcomb invented winglets, upturned ends on airplane wings that reduce vortices that cause drag, lowering fuel consumption by around 5% or about 100,000 gallons per airliner annually.
NASA is also exploring new ways of launching satellites, such as horizontally or with a slingshot, which could reduce the industry's atmospheric impact.
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Frequently asked questions
NASA, along with the rest of the space industry, contributes to pollution through rocket launches, satellite and spacecraft re-entry, and the disposal of waste and old equipment. While the exact amount of pollution is unknown, it is believed to be significant.
NASA's rockets emit carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapour, nitrogen oxides, alumina particles, chlorine, and black soot into the stratosphere. These emissions have a warming effect, deplete the ozone layer, and contribute to climate change.
The space industry, including NASA, burns far less fossil fuel compared to the aviation industry. However, a single passenger aboard a rocket is responsible for 100 times more climate-changing pollution than an airline passenger. As the space tourism industry grows, the cumulative impact of rocket launches on the environment may become more significant.
NASA is exploring new ways of launching satellites, such as using a slingshot method, which may reduce atmospheric impact. Additionally, companies like Virgin Orbit and SpaceX are investigating the use of sustainable rocket fuels, such as bio-propane and methane-based fuel, which produce less soot and are easier to reuse.
