Urgent Action Needed: Scientists Highlight the Impact of Space Launches on Air Pollution

Scientists are raising alarms about air pollution from the growing space industry. A team led by Professor Eloise Marais at University College London (UCL) has been monitoring space activity since 2020. Their latest figures show a staggering 259 rocket launches in 2024, up from 223 in 2023. These launches burned over 153,000 tonnes of fuel.

Marais pointed out that the pollution from rockets and satellites is increasing at an alarming rate. “This is uncharted territory,” she said. “No one has ever added this much pollution to the upper layers of the atmosphere. If we don’t regulate this, it could seriously impact Earth’s atmosphere.”

Emerging mega-constellations like Starlink and OneWeb are significant contributors to this pollution, causing a threefold increase in emissions of soot and carbon dioxide. While the total emissions from space are lower than those from industries like aviation, the particles released linger in the upper atmosphere far longer. This leads to a warming effect that can be up to 500 times greater than soot from ground sources.

Marais noted, “The amount of propellant used for these mega-constellations has outstripped that of all other space missions combined.” Future plans, like Amazon Kuiper’s constellation, may introduce more harmful pollutants, including ozone-depleting chemicals.

Dr. Connor Barker from UCL warned that the many planned mega-constellations could undo hard-earned progress in protecting the ozone layer. Historical context shows that in the late 1960s and until 2016, only 100 to 200 objects launched into space each year. Now, that number has exploded into the thousands.

As we gaze at the night sky, especially during meteor showers, we can see satellites moving across the horizon. They are becoming a common sight.

There are also practical concerns about space debris. With so many satellites re-entering the atmosphere—about 2,539 in 2024 alone—these objects burn up, releasing tiny, often reactive metal particles. This year, they’re expected to account for 13,500 tonnes of material, including parts from discarded rockets.

Professor Stuart Martin, chairman at the UK National Space Centre, highlighted the complexities of international space law. Currently, the country that launches a satellite owns it, making cleanup efforts difficult.

As the space industry expands, the potential for environmental impact grows. It’s a conversation we all need to engage in.

For further insights, you can refer to reports from credible sources like Nature and NASA.

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