The study, by a team from University College London (UCL), documented emissions from 63,000 tonnes of rocket fuel in 2022, as well as pollution from 3,622 objects re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere; This corresponds to approximately 12,000 tons of material. Dr Connor Barker, who led the research, noted the difficulties of data collection, emphasizing that much of the data is tightly controlled by manufacturers and agencies.
Researchers turned to alternative sources, such as YouTube broadcasts of launches and databases created by enthusiasts. The increase in pollution is linked to the growth of “mega-constellations” of satellites, whose low-orbit devices such as Starlink and OneWeb provide global communications coverage but lead to more frequent launches and more debris in the atmosphere.
Pollutants such as soot and aluminum oxides can remain in the upper atmosphere for years, affecting the climate and the ozone layer. The study highlights the environmental risks of increased space activity.
Source: Ferra
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