{"id":30222,"date":"2023-03-29T09:25:05","date_gmt":"2023-03-29T08:25:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=30222"},"modified":"2023-03-29T09:31:37","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T08:31:37","slug":"does-space-activity-contribute-to-climate-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/does-space-activity-contribute-to-climate-change\/30222\/","title":{"rendered":"Are activities in space contributing to climate change?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Ecologically, processes such as photosynthesis are driven by solar radiation. This radiation is both a source of heat and ultraviolet energy essential for life and essential ecosystem services such as air and water purification. It is widely understood that the composition of the atmosphere and, more specifically, concentrations of heat-trapping gases mediate the return of energy back into space and, if restricted, intensify heating.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, increased warming is changing the hydrologic cycle patterns by increasing ocean evaporation and atmospheric water retention capacity. This is creating storm intensification and spatial variability in moisture delivery throughout the globe. Because temperature and moisture are the fundamental building blocks of our biomes and ecosystems, understandably each are fundamentally changing. These changes, mediated by atmospheric processes, have the potential to impact ecological integrity and the systems that sustain our life on this planet.<\/p>\n
While conservation and environmental protection efforts have focused on terrestrial ecosystem and biome protection, it may be the atmosphere that ultimately must be protected as it contains the keys to distribute moisture and temperature. We must rethink our attitude toward the atmosphere in our conservation efforts. It not only protects us from harmful and damaging ultraviolet radiation but regulates heat and radiation powering our environment. Terrestrial life is intertwined with the atmosphere, and it needs to be part of any protection effort.<\/p>\n
To that effect, the atmosphere currently acts as a buffer or transition between activity on or near the planet\u2019s surface (0-11km in height or the troposphere) and space activity occurring in the other layers of the atmosphere (approximately 300km to approximately 2,000km in height) in the troposphere or low Earth orbit (LEO). To put spacecraft into this orbit, a launch must use propellant emitting waste in the process. Some portions or stages of the launch may be discarded or burned as well. Once in orbit, these spacecraft are used for various designed purposes until replaced or put out of service. But when their useful life is complete, what remains are various expendable spacecraft and pieces of debris with an uncertain future. This has created an excessive amount of space debris or junk orbiting the planet without a specific management plan to remove it.<\/p>\n
Even more concerning is a movement toward the use of mega satellite constellations that provide a cheap, effective model for global coverage. These constellations have the potential to replace many of the existing older and more expensive satellites, creating an even bigger problem of disposal for the satellites these constellations replace. In addition, the US has recently passed policy requiring satellites to be replaced every five years, assuming this would be the most effective way to reduce space debris and preserve the space environment. This policy burns non-functional satellites and associated debris in the atmosphere as the waste disposal management plan.<\/p>\n