SpaceX’s recent Starship flight explosion released a significant amount of air pollution into the upper layers of Earth’s atmosphere, with estimates suggesting up to 45.5 metric tons of metal oxides and 40 metric tons of nitrogen oxides were produced during the event.
The rapid unscheduled disassembly of the rocket, which rained scorching fragments of metal across the Caribbean, generated substantial amounts of pollution. However, scientists are unsure how much metallic dust remained in the atmosphere after the explosion, as some parts of the rocket’s mass may have burned up and others splashed down into the ocean.
In comparison to other sources of air pollution, such as meteorite material that burns up in Earth’s atmosphere every year, the Starship mishap is estimated to produce a similar amount of metallic pollution. The good news is that the upper stage of the rocket is made of stainless steel, reducing the risk of aluminum-based pollutants like alumina, which can damage the ozone layer and alter the reflectiveness of Earth’s atmosphere.
The increase in satellite launches and re-entries has led to rising concerns about air pollution in the mesosphere and upper stratosphere. The pollutants produced during these events remain in the air for a long time, posing risks to the planet’s climate. As scientists continue to monitor space debris, it is essential to address the growing concern of atmospheric pollution caused by satellite re-entries.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/how-much-did-spacexs-starship-flight-7-explosion-pollute-the-atmosphere