SpaceX Starship Flight 7 Explosion Raises Concerns Over Air Pollution

The explosion of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 7 in mid -January has discussed its potential environmental impact among experts. The upper stage of the rocket, which weighed about 85 tons without fuel, exploded at a height of about 90 miles (146 km). A piece of disintegrated spacecraft was reported to fall over the Caribbean. Preliminary estimates suggest that the phenomenon may produce significant amounts of metal oxide and nitrogen oxide, pollutants are pollutants known for their effects on the Earth’s ozone layer and atmospheric structure. Scientists are evaluating the limits of contamination left in the upper atmosphere due to the accident.

Emission of explosion

As Informed By Space.com, according to the initial assessment by Connerful Constory Barkar, the atmospheric chemistry of the University College London, approximately 45.5 metric tons of metal oxide and 40 metric tons of nitrogen oxide can be released in the atmosphere during the event. Barker noted Space.com on an email that the amount of metal pollution produced was about one third of the annual flow of meteorite materials in the Earth’s atmosphere. The figures are rough estimates rather than a fixed calculation of environmental impact.

Potential risk to environment

Space debris specialist Jonathan McDowell told Space.com that the remains of the spacecraft are likely to “several tons”, which reduces potential aerial pollution. Unlike many satellites made of aluminum and traditional rocket stages, stainless steel composition of stainless steel limits the production of aluminum oxide, which are known to affect the ozone layer and atmospheric reflection.

With the increasing frequency of satellite re-entries and rocket launch, scientists are raising concerns about the cumulative impact of these pollutants. Research suggests that nitrogen oxide accumulated in mesosphere and upper stratosphere can affect the recovery of climate patterns and slow ozone layers.