SpaceX's latest Starship launch raised serious environmental concerns when it destroyed its launchpad and scattered debris over protected lands, highlighting the risks of expanding space technology.
Richard Hollingham reports for the BBC.
In short:
- The April 2023 Starship launch explosion resulted in significant environmental damage, scattering debris across conservation areas.
- SpaceX had failed to install a crucial protective plate under the rocket, leading to a massive cleanup effort.
- Environmental groups are increasingly worried about the impact of rocket launches on protected areas, as SpaceX and other rocket companies plan further expansions near protected areas.
Key quote:
"The amount of environmental destruction they cause with the debris, and the potential for fires, air and water pollution – we would like to see more security and testing before we're launching spaceships near protected areas."
— Sarah Gaines Barmeyer, deputy vice president of conservation programs at the U.S. National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).
Why this matters:
Unchecked space launch activities could pose serious threats to protected environments, risking long-term ecological damage. According to NASA, in the last 30 years, the primary impacts of 135 launches have been "the accumulation of aluminium particulates, damage to vegetation and temporarily reduced pH in adjacent waters".
