Black carbon deposition in stratosphere
Rocket exhaust deposits black carbon particles in the stratosphere, absorbing solar radiation and contributing to localised warming and ozone depletion.
Components
Lifecycle Stages
Environmental Concerns
Obligations (1)
Environmental impact assessment for launch sites
MediumLaunch operators must conduct environmental impact assessments covering soil, water, air quality, and wildlife impacts at and around launch facilities.
Opportunities (2)
Electric propulsion systems
MediumAdopt electric propulsion (ion or Hall-effect thrusters) to reduce propellant mass, eliminate toxic fuels, and enable more flexible mission profiles.
Reusable launch vehicles
HighSupport development of fully reusable launch systems to dramatically reduce per-launch environmental impact and cost.