Why do people keep inventing new ways to spend money and show affluence; the latest
is taking a trip to outer space.
Billionaire and owner of space firm Blue Origin, Richard Branson, and Amazon founder,
Billionaire Jeff Bezos, have both taken a trip to space in 2021.
Not too long after his flight, Richard Branson made an open declaration about making
space more accessible and welcomed everyone to the dawn of a new space age.
Tickets are already on sale for millions of dollars; people are waiting in line to partake in
this adventure.
Companies such as Virgin Galactic and SpaceX are willing and prepared to make space
tourism more common.
Impacts of commercial space travel on the environment
The emissions released by a space flight far surpass that of a typical airplane flight.
With the rising popularity of space travel, we can be sure of experiencing much worse
pollution.
Eloise Marais, a physical geography professor at the University College London,
remarked that the amount of carbon left behind from traveling into outer space in these
rockets is astonishingly high; the impact is even multiplied by 100 when traveling a long
distance.
He also stated that it is profoundly troublesome if we intend to be intentional about our
environment and think about the ecological impact or carbon footprint, as he calls it.
The amount of damage each flight poses to the atmosphere depends on the kind of fuel
used by the rocket.
Rocket fuel can range from kerosene to liquid hydrogen.
After undergoing the process of combustion, kerosene releases carbon dioxide, water,
and other chemicals.
Carbon dioxide has some damaging effects on the ozone layer. Combustion of liquid
hydrogen will lead mainly to the emission of water and other mild products. Although
water vapor is not as harmful as carbon dioxide, it still has unwanted effects on the
atmosphere.
There are still some unknown risks of commercial space travel due to a lack of
extensive research on the subject matter. With these commercial space trips being on
the rise, it is paramount that we do more work; and carry out studies to assess the level
of damage these space travels have on the environment and the long-term impact.
Results obtained can be publicized, and policies made to regulate or put an end to such
adventurous trips that are of no scientific benefit.
The American Geophysical Union magazine discovered that 400 space flights annually
over 40 years would generate enough greenhouse gas emissions to cause up to 1°C
more warming in the Arctic than is already projected.
Darin Toohey is an American atmospheric scientist and a professor of atmospheric and
oceanic sciences and environmental studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. He
also voices his
concerns on the subject. His research addresses the role of trace gases and aerosols
on earth’s climate, atmospheric oxidation, and air quality. Darin Toohey explains that he
is especially concerned about carbon-based fuels like the one used by SpaceX and
Virgin Galactic because they generate soot or black carbon when burnt.
This soot presents a more grave concern because, according to Darin Toohey, it
reflects sunlight and could multiply warming in the uppermost region of the atmosphere.
Eloise Marais, the geography professor, pointed out that all types of space travel will
give rise to nitrogen oxides, or NOx, from the high temperatures required to enter the
atmosphere again. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), Nitrogen oxides are 300 times stronger than carbon dioxide at warming the
atmosphere.
Marais is optimistic that her studies on the impact of rocket fuel emissions on the ozone
layer can be of great assistance in guiding future space industry regulations that will be
important as the space tourism industry advances.
The physical geography professor explains that they essentially intend to speak against
the use of solid rocket fuel. Solid rocket fuel can cause the worst level of damage to the
stratosphere as it emits aluminum oxide particles and hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric
acid, an extremely corrosive acid, is also soluble in water. If it enters nearby water
sources, this acid can lower the pH of water, making it uninhabitable for fish and other
wildlife. NASA also discovered the ability of this harmful acid to decrease the number of
plant species around the launch site.
We should take all caution; Marais advocates that the commercial space travel sector
can grow responsibly.
To save the earth our home, we need to get ahead of the problem and keep sorting for
more sustainable ways to approach space travel. It is not only a problem for scientists
or the government; business owners such as founders of space firms must also join
hands to tackle this problem. If we must travel to outer space, it must be well done.