UCL helps lead urgent call for coordinated research into the atmospheric impacts of spaceflight

The number of satellites launched to orbit has increased 10-fold since 2015 and, since 2020, 50-80 more rockets are launched each year than the previous, spurred by the advent of megaconstellations.  

The pollutants associated with these activities are increasing exponentially in response, as shown by an online emissions tracker developed by Professor Eloise Marais and Dr Connor Barker which tracks emissions since the start of the space race in 1957.  

The pollutants produced are known to affect climate and destroy the ozone that is protecting us from the sun’s harmful rays.  

There is no regulation to mitigate harm to the environment. But even before regulation can be developed, there are many critical knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to fully understand how and to what extent launches and re-entries harm the environment.  

A timely white paper, published last month, provides a detailed assessment of the state of knowledge of environmental harm and proposes ambitious coordinated research efforts needed to address scientific uncertainties.  

The white paper was coordinated by the European Space Sciences Committee (ESSC) and included leading experts from across Europe and the US.  

Professor Marais, a member of the Atmospheric Impact of Re-entry and Launch (AIRL) Working Group, was one of a team of seven select lead authors of the report. 

Her role since the group was founded in late 2023 has been to review the evolving scientific knowledge, and to foster and coordinate research efforts across Europe and the US.  

Research led by Dr Barker, Post Doctoral Researcher in Professor Marais’ research group, also made a major contribution to informing the state of the science and shaping future research needs.  

The report emphasises the urgent need for a coordinated research effort to advance understanding of the atmospheric impacts of spaceflight before potentially causing irreparable harm to the atmosphere or leaving future generations to clean up the mess.