The space industry is re-launching after decades of stagnation.
After Elon Musk’s SpaceX and China’s 114 orbital launches in 2018, the development in space programs have been fast. This is the first triple-digit launch since 1990.

Additionally, the orbital launches will soon exceed 130 for the first time since the ’70s and this count excludes the suborbital tourism excursion that Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic intended to launch soon.

On one hand, NASA plans for a lunar return and SpaceX is constructing a massive “mega constellation” made up of massive internet satellites to provide internet for the whole world. On the other hand, China is crewing a space station and they’ll be sending crews of tourists to the edge of space and this might become the new tourism in the future.
But how will this impact the planet?

“While we do obviously need space launches and satellites when it comes to things like space tourism, you start thinking about the environmental impact,” says Ian Whittaker, a lecturer in space physics at Nottingham Trent University in the U.K.

Researchers are trying to figure out how our planet might react to all these rockets launching from the earth. For instance, researchers are studying the overall blend of carbon dioxide, alumina, soot, and other particles that rockets profligate.

No proof yet that the space industry is harming the earth

Until now, there are no scientific proofs that the space industry is threatening the environment. However, it is unknown if this might change or not.

“I don’t think we know enough at this point to lay out exactly what that future ought to be,” says Martin Ross, an atmospheric scientist at The Aerospace Corp. “We just don’t have that information yet.”

“If CO2 is not where the action is, it’s the particles,” says Ross, who has spent decades studying the environmental effects of launches.

A spokesperson for Virgin Galactic said the company “is examining opportunities to offset the carbon emissions for future customer flights.” While SpaceX has not commented directly on carbon emissions, Musk has supported a carbon tax policy. Blue Origin has said its New Shepard rocket uses carbon-free fuels like hydrogen and oxygen.