The cost of launching a rocket into space is falling, and the number of rocket launches is growing. Last year the government and
But there is a problem.To escape Earth's gravity, a rocket must release enormous amounts of energy in a short period of time. The hot exhaust changes the physics and chemical composition of the atmosphere as it passes through. In a new study, a pair of physicists simulated the launch of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and found several reasons to worry.
Physicists have simulated an exhaust from nine nozzlesFalcon 9 rocket during launch into space. These models include data about the rocket, fuel, and take into account the behavior of gases under various conditions. Thanks to computing power, the researchers made several simulations.
They analyzed the launch by comparing the volume of exhaust gases released during ascent through a specific band of atmosphere with the properties of the "clean" atmosphere at a specific altitude.
Scientists have discovered that once a rocketpasses an altitude of 43.5 km, it begins to emit more than one cubic kilometer of CO₂ for each kilometer of ascent. By the time it reaches 70 km, Falcon 9 emits more than 25 times more CO₂ than in a cubic kilometer of air at that altitude. This worries scientists because there is almost no carbon monoxide or water in the atmosphere. Emissions of these compounds at higher altitudes contribute more significantly to climate change. Frequent rocket launches in the future could have a significant cumulative impact on the climate, scientists say.