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See Again
© Getty Images
0 / 29 Fotos
The rise in rockets
- When it comes to developing rocket technology, there have been some exciting advancements in recent years.
© Getty Images
1 / 29 Fotos
SpaceX
- The team at SpaceX, for example, have received praise for pushing the boundaries of rocket technology with their pioneering Starship.
© Getty Images
2 / 29 Fotos
Making progress
- Starship was first launched on April 20, 2023, and many people have considered it well on the way to eventually sending people to the Moon.
© Getty Images
3 / 29 Fotos
Environmental concerns
- However, the companies working on rocket technology are increasingly coming under fire from groups concerned about the environment.
© Getty Images
4 / 29 Fotos
When rockets fail
- As space launches become increasingly frequent, we are learning more about the environmental impact of rockets, in particular what happens when things go wrong.
© Getty Images
5 / 29 Fotos
Negative impacts
- When a rocket explodes, it can have a number of negative consequences for the planet. Rocket propellants may pollute surrounding soil and water.
© Getty Images
6 / 29 Fotos
Soil and water pollution
- Rocket propellants, such as unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) and nitroso dimethylamine (NDMA), are very harmful to soil and water sources, and they can persist in the environment for decades.
© Getty Images
7 / 29 Fotos
Ozone depletion
- When a rocket explodes, it can release ozone-depleting substances, such as chlorine and bromine, into the stratosphere.
© Shutterstock
8 / 29 Fotos
Ozone depletion
- These substances may damage the ozone. This can have a number of negative consequences for the health of humans and wildlife.
© Shutterstock
9 / 29 Fotos
Toxic gas emissions
- Malfunctioning or exploding rockets have also been known to release large amounts of toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, into the atmosphere.
© Shutterstock
10 / 29 Fotos
Toxic gas emissions
- When released into the atmosphere, these emissions can have very harmful consequences for local populations and wildlife.
© Getty Images
11 / 29 Fotos
Long-lasting impact
- One of the main reasons that environmental groups are so concerned about the impact of failed rocket launches is that the consequences can be long lasting.
© Shutterstock
12 / 29 Fotos
Long-lasting impact
- Indeed, some pollutants can exist for decades, or even centuries, and this can have a negative cumulative effect on ecosystems and human populations over time.
© Shutterstock
13 / 29 Fotos
Regulatory gaps
- Another reason that many people are so concerned about the environmental impact of rockets is the lack of regulation and oversight.
© Getty Images
14 / 29 Fotos
Criticism of the FAA
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), for example, has been criticized for not being active enough in its handling of rocket-related environmental concerns.
© Getty Images
15 / 29 Fotos
Real cases
- Let’s take a look at some instances where rocket launches went wrong, and the resulting disastrous consequences for the surrounding environment.
© Getty Images
16 / 29 Fotos
SpaceX Starship
- Perhaps the most well-documented example was the launch of the SpaceX Starship in April 2023. The rocket was in the air for a grand total of three minutes and 57 seconds.
© Getty Images
17 / 29 Fotos
Cloud of debris
- Just before reaching the four-minute mark, the spacecraft exploded and plunged itself into the ocean among a huge cloud of dust and debris.
© Getty Images
18 / 29 Fotos
Surrounding areas
- Later, it was found that the explosion not only destroyed the launchpad of the rocket itself, but it also littered surrounding conservation areas with wreckage.
© Getty Images
19 / 29 Fotos
Legal action
- In the wake of the explosion, several conservation groups filed a legal claim against government regulators for allowing the launch to take place.
© Getty Images
20 / 29 Fotos
Proton-M
- Another example of a harmful explosion was in Kazakhstan in 2003. The Proton-M rocket crashed and caused contamination that destroyed much of the surrounding ecosystem.
© Getty Images
21 / 29 Fotos
Mitigation measures
- As spacecraft launches continue to increase, the companies that fund them will need to find ways to mitigate against the risk of explosions that harm the environment.
© Getty Images
22 / 29 Fotos
Improve safety design
- One thing they can focus on is improving safety design: by incorporating more robust safety features, rocket designers can reduce the risk of environmental harm during launches.
© Getty Images
23 / 29 Fotos
Conduct assessments
- Another area for improvement would be conducting environmental assessments. By conducting thorough evaluations, companies that design rockets can help mitigate risks before launches.
© Shutterstock
24 / 29 Fotos
Improve regulatory oversight
- On the government side, more can be done to improve regulatory oversight and ensure that rocket launch companies comply with environmental standards.
© Shutterstock
25 / 29 Fotos
Engaging with communities
- Rocket launch operators can also do more to engage with local communities and stakeholders to identify environmental concerns and address them.
© Getty Images
26 / 29 Fotos
Final thoughts
- In conclusion, the continued advancements in rocket technology are exciting, but they are not without environmental risk.
© Getty Images
27 / 29 Fotos
Sustainable space exploration
- It is only by acknowledging what has gone wrong in the past and working to mitigate the risk of things going wrong in the future that we can achieve a more sustainable space industry. Sources: (BBC) (Space) See also: What would happen to your body if you got lost in space
© Getty Images
28 / 29 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 29 Fotos
The rise in rockets
- When it comes to developing rocket technology, there have been some exciting advancements in recent years.
© Getty Images
1 / 29 Fotos
SpaceX
- The team at SpaceX, for example, have received praise for pushing the boundaries of rocket technology with their pioneering Starship.
© Getty Images
2 / 29 Fotos
Making progress
- Starship was first launched on April 20, 2023, and many people have considered it well on the way to eventually sending people to the Moon.
© Getty Images
3 / 29 Fotos
Environmental concerns
- However, the companies working on rocket technology are increasingly coming under fire from groups concerned about the environment.
© Getty Images
4 / 29 Fotos
When rockets fail
- As space launches become increasingly frequent, we are learning more about the environmental impact of rockets, in particular what happens when things go wrong.
© Getty Images
5 / 29 Fotos
Negative impacts
- When a rocket explodes, it can have a number of negative consequences for the planet. Rocket propellants may pollute surrounding soil and water.
© Getty Images
6 / 29 Fotos
Soil and water pollution
- Rocket propellants, such as unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) and nitroso dimethylamine (NDMA), are very harmful to soil and water sources, and they can persist in the environment for decades.
© Getty Images
7 / 29 Fotos
Ozone depletion
- When a rocket explodes, it can release ozone-depleting substances, such as chlorine and bromine, into the stratosphere.
© Shutterstock
8 / 29 Fotos
Ozone depletion
- These substances may damage the ozone. This can have a number of negative consequences for the health of humans and wildlife.
© Shutterstock
9 / 29 Fotos
Toxic gas emissions
- Malfunctioning or exploding rockets have also been known to release large amounts of toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, into the atmosphere.
© Shutterstock
10 / 29 Fotos
Toxic gas emissions
- When released into the atmosphere, these emissions can have very harmful consequences for local populations and wildlife.
© Getty Images
11 / 29 Fotos
Long-lasting impact
- One of the main reasons that environmental groups are so concerned about the impact of failed rocket launches is that the consequences can be long lasting.
© Shutterstock
12 / 29 Fotos
Long-lasting impact
- Indeed, some pollutants can exist for decades, or even centuries, and this can have a negative cumulative effect on ecosystems and human populations over time.
© Shutterstock
13 / 29 Fotos
Regulatory gaps
- Another reason that many people are so concerned about the environmental impact of rockets is the lack of regulation and oversight.
© Getty Images
14 / 29 Fotos
Criticism of the FAA
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), for example, has been criticized for not being active enough in its handling of rocket-related environmental concerns.
© Getty Images
15 / 29 Fotos
Real cases
- Let’s take a look at some instances where rocket launches went wrong, and the resulting disastrous consequences for the surrounding environment.
© Getty Images
16 / 29 Fotos
SpaceX Starship
- Perhaps the most well-documented example was the launch of the SpaceX Starship in April 2023. The rocket was in the air for a grand total of three minutes and 57 seconds.
© Getty Images
17 / 29 Fotos
Cloud of debris
- Just before reaching the four-minute mark, the spacecraft exploded and plunged itself into the ocean among a huge cloud of dust and debris.
© Getty Images
18 / 29 Fotos
Surrounding areas
- Later, it was found that the explosion not only destroyed the launchpad of the rocket itself, but it also littered surrounding conservation areas with wreckage.
© Getty Images
19 / 29 Fotos
Legal action
- In the wake of the explosion, several conservation groups filed a legal claim against government regulators for allowing the launch to take place.
© Getty Images
20 / 29 Fotos
Proton-M
- Another example of a harmful explosion was in Kazakhstan in 2003. The Proton-M rocket crashed and caused contamination that destroyed much of the surrounding ecosystem.
© Getty Images
21 / 29 Fotos
Mitigation measures
- As spacecraft launches continue to increase, the companies that fund them will need to find ways to mitigate against the risk of explosions that harm the environment.
© Getty Images
22 / 29 Fotos
Improve safety design
- One thing they can focus on is improving safety design: by incorporating more robust safety features, rocket designers can reduce the risk of environmental harm during launches.
© Getty Images
23 / 29 Fotos
Conduct assessments
- Another area for improvement would be conducting environmental assessments. By conducting thorough evaluations, companies that design rockets can help mitigate risks before launches.
© Shutterstock
24 / 29 Fotos
Improve regulatory oversight
- On the government side, more can be done to improve regulatory oversight and ensure that rocket launch companies comply with environmental standards.
© Shutterstock
25 / 29 Fotos
Engaging with communities
- Rocket launch operators can also do more to engage with local communities and stakeholders to identify environmental concerns and address them.
© Getty Images
26 / 29 Fotos
Final thoughts
- In conclusion, the continued advancements in rocket technology are exciting, but they are not without environmental risk.
© Getty Images
27 / 29 Fotos
Sustainable space exploration
- It is only by acknowledging what has gone wrong in the past and working to mitigate the risk of things going wrong in the future that we can achieve a more sustainable space industry. Sources: (BBC) (Space) See also: What would happen to your body if you got lost in space
© Getty Images
28 / 29 Fotos
The environmental impact of launching rockets
How the planet suffers when rocket launches fail
© Getty Images
Space exploration is a fascinating area of science that allows us to learn about the reaches of the universe and broaden our knowledge of the cosmos. And as a main facet of space exploration, rockets have come on in leaps and bounds in the past few decades. However, it is still quite common for things to go wrong. And when things don't go as planned with a spacecraft launch, it's often the environment that pays the price.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.
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