Ok so we all agree that the planet is in trouble right? Regardless of whether that’s our fault or the neighbors right? Right.
So why on earth have we decided to allow for one of the most polluting industry to take off and become commercially available? Are we that suicidal?
So let’s have a look at the possible sources of pollution of a space shuttle, just for shits and giggles…
1. Energy consumed in the launch (from Madsci Network):
“Space shuttle fuel consumed in a launch: 3.5 million pounds
Gasoline consumed in one day in the US – 2,500 million pounds
In other words, one space shuttle launch is equivalent to about two minutes
of gasoline consumption in the United States.”
2. Hydrochloric acid production (from BBC):
“All shuttle launches can nonetheless have damaging impacts on the local environment. […] “The classic example of environmental impact is in Kazakhstan at the Baikonur launch site, where there are reports of quite serious environmental damage.”
For most shuttles, the damage comes from the solid rocket boosters[…]
As a shuttle launches, a “cloud” becomes visible which contains SRB exhaust products, either dissolved or as particles in the water vapour released by the main engines.
Hydrochloric acid formed in this launch cloud leads to acidic deposits in the surrounding area, a phenomenon which may also be observed some distance away if exhausts are carried on prevailing winds.
The scenes of dead fish in Spain could be repeated next to launch sites
John Pike, president of Global Security.org, and an expert on the US space programme says: “The hydrochloric acid can pit the paint on your car if it is too close to the launch site.”
3. Everything else (from a 1997 report on General space tourism):
“A myriad of legal and regulatory aspects of public space travel and tourism must be resolved before viable large scale businesses can emerge. This is especially true of those public agencies with the responsibility to regulate in the interest of public safety. This includes identification of public policies and/or laws that exist or must be enacted to enable business formation, licensing, certification and approval processes for both passengers and vehicles, clearance and over-flight considerations, and environmental and safety issues including atmospheric pollution, solar radiation (flares) and orbital debris.”
I certainly hope that these issues have been dealt with because the “design coating” that’s happening around this industry these days is making me sick.