The explosion of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 7 in mid-January may have released a significant amount of air pollution into Earth’s upper atmosphere, but scientists are still unsure of the exact environmental impact. The incident, described as a “rapid unscheduled disassembly”, occurred at an altitude of 90 miles (146 km) and scattered scorching metallic debris across the Caribbean.
🚀 How Much Pollution Did Starship Flight 7 Generate?
🔹 The upper stage of Starship weighed 85 tons without propellant.
🔹 During reentry and explosion, it likely generated:
✅ 45.5 metric tons of metal oxides
✅ 40 metric tons of nitrogen oxides
These preliminary estimates come from Connor Barker, an atmospheric chemistry researcher at University College London. He compared the accident’s pollution to one-third of the annual natural meteorite material that burns up in Earth’s atmosphere. However, the exact amount of pollution remains uncertain, as scientists are still determining how much of the rocket’s mass burned up vs. how much splashed down into the ocean.
🌎 What Are the Environmental Risks?
🔹 Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) → Can damage Earth’s ozone layer and contribute to air pollution.
🔹 Metal Oxides → Long-lasting particles that could alter atmospheric chemistry.
🔹 Aluminum vs. Stainless Steel → Unlike aluminum-burning rockets (such as Falcon 9 or satellites), Starship’s stainless steel does not generate alumina (Al₂O₃), which is known for damaging ozone and affecting Earth’s reflectivity.
🔬 Scientists Are Watching for Long-Term Effects
🚀 The rising number of satellite re-entries and rocket launches is causing concern:
✅ More nitrogen oxides in the mesosphere (upper atmosphere)
✅ Increased alumina from aluminum-based rockets
✅ Potential disruption to ozone layer recovery
✅ Changes in atmospheric reflectivity, possibly affecting climate
With satellite re-entries skyrocketing, scientists warn that the pollution levels from space activity are approaching those generated by natural meteoroid entries—but with far greater long-term consequences.
🌍 The Bigger Picture: What’s Next?
As spaceflight activity accelerates, researchers are calling for:
🔹 More studies on rocket emissions
🔹 Better tracking of high-altitude pollutants
🔹 Potential regulations on reentry pollution
While Starship’s stainless steel construction likely reduced its environmental footprint compared to aluminum rockets, its sheer size and explosion still pose challenges for atmospheric scientists.
