IMPACT OF SPACE LAUNCHES ON THE ENVIRONMENT

 

https://doi.org/10.31073/ecobezpeka202507-11

 

Kotsiubynskyi A. O.

Hrytsulyak H. M.

Yatsyshyn T. M.

Lynnyk D. O.

Ivano-Frankivsk National University of Oil and Gas

 

In the past, the environmental impact of the space industry has been overlooked. The main reason for this is the small number of large rocket launches per year. But today, the dynamics of growth in the number of launches is impressive - from 114 in 2018 to 222 space launch attempts (211 of which were successful) in 2023. The aim of the study is to assess the impact of space launches on the environment. Each launch of a large rocket brings not only great benefits, both scientific and practical, but also a significant amount of emissions. At the same time, different types of rockets have different environmental impacts. In addition to the impact of spent rocket stages and debris falling into remote areas, oceans, or densely populated areas, there is a negative impact on the atmosphere. All rockets use fossil fuels and emit carbon dioxide and water. But some types of engines are more environmentally acceptable than others. Current research shows that kerosene-fueled rockets and some types of hybrid engines emit significant amounts of black carbon. At the same time, the amount of black carbon emitted by such rockets is already comparable to the amount of soot emitted by the entire aviation industry. Rocket fuel residues contain toxic compounds that have a negative impact on the environment. Therefore, the development of environmentally friendly fuels, such as methane or hydrogen, is becoming increasingly important. Another type of impact on the atmosphere is the destruction of the ozone layer. High temperatures during rocket flight lead to the formation of large amounts of nitrogen oxides, which can destroy ozone in the stratosphere. The destruction of the ozone layer is a global environmental problem with serious consequences for the environment. The current state of the industry does not have a large-scale impact on climate change. However, looking to the future, the dynamics of the growth in the number of launches indicates the need for environmental regulation. Keywords: Environment, ozone layer, emissions, air pollution, rocket enginе