Space travel poses lots of threats to the atmospheric condition of the earth. The number
of fumes generated from the launch of a rocket into space is detrimental to the ozone
layer, the earth’s protective cover.
Space tourism is a rising industry with countless customers eagerly waiting in line to
patronize; some are already investing money to save travel spots in the future.
With billionaires such as Richard Branson and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos traveling to
space has made it more of an adventure to be ticked off a bucket list than an
exploration of the universe for scientific research purposes. Now, companies such as
the spaceflight company owned by Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic founded by
Richard Branson, SpaceX, and Space Adventures are determined to make space more
open to everyone.
Eloise Marais, an associate professor of physical geography at University College
London, made an intriguing comment, stating that the launch of a novel private space
industry fostering tourism and its regular use could have a broad impact on the
environment. This physical geographist studies the level of damage fuels and
businesses have on the atmosphere.
The problems of private space travel
When rockets launch into space, they depend on fuels such as kerosene to propel them
out of the atmosphere. As these fuels burn while being used, they release waste
products such as carbon dioxide and water (waste products of hydrocarbon
combustion). Chlorine (enemy of the ozone layer) and other chemicals result from using
rocket fuels. According to the Guardian, one rocket launch produces up to 300 tons of
carbon dioxide into the upper atmosphere and remains above it for an extensive period.
Research says that a one-and-a-half-hour suborbital flight on Virgin Galactic can
produce as many pollutants as a 10-hour trans-Atlantic flight. All rocket motors that
consume hydrocarbon fuels like SpaceX’s rocket 9, which uses kerosene, bring forth
black carbon sediments known as soot. Also, solid rocket motors combust metallic
compounds to release alumina particles plus hydrochloric acid; these possess a very
destructive effect on the atmosphere.
The substances given out from rocket fuels are released straight to the region of the
uppermost atmosphere and can remain in that space for almost three years. The ozone
serves as a protective stratum for the earth. There is a high possibility of the ozone
getting damaged by those gases and materials emitted from rocket fuels.
So far, the most important and most studied environmental impact of traveling to outer
space has been the gradual exhaustion of the ozone of the uppermost atmosphere
known as the stratosphere; it is the most reason for concern. Ozone traps ultraviolet
radiation from reaching the earth. Ultraviolet rays have the potential to penetrate the
skin and destroy the DNA molecules of the human resulting in sunburn and skin
cancers.
It is the beginning of what would soon be known as the “New Space Age”; we cannot
simply ascertain how much impact it will have on our environment.
For now, experts cannot foretell how big the space tourism business can arise mainly
because of insufficient data from space firms about the number of people they plan to
send to outer space in a year.
It was stated in a report that the number of potential customers for space tourism has
the likelihood of growing by 17.15% each year for the next decade.
The way forward
Billionaires are pumping millions of dollars into space travel for recreational purposes.
Thousands of dollars are being spent daily on purchasing tickets for space trips. What
now? Do we fold our hands and watch some adventure-hungry people end human life
as we know it? The time to act is now.
Policies should be in place about the kind of fuels used in rockets, and the possible
effect on the Climate needs to be studied vehemently. More attention should be on
learning the possible outcomes of these rocket fuels and space travels on the Climate.
Scientists can estimate the environmental impact by knowing the type of fuel that the
rocket uses and the result of the combustion of that fuel.
Experts say that the BE-3 engine powering Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital
vehicle, unlike the one used by SpaceX, combines liquid hydrogen and lox (LO2) to
generate push. This BE-3 engine does not cause as much pollution as other rocket
engines because it releases water vapor alongside some mild waste products of
combustion. Marais states that water vapor in the atmosphere can still cause some
damage; in the meantime, this liquid hydrogen and lox can be promoted as the
recommended fuel for rockets to use while awaiting research and development of safer
fuel options.
Also, there can be rules in place to regulate the number of space travels that occur
every year.
In summary, if the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable. Now is the time
to be careful and put in all necessary caution; before things get out of shape and
beyond repair.