Exploring the heavens has impacted humanity in many ways, some of which we are still discovering today. Listing all of these will take up way too much of your time, so let’s narrow it down to space exploration’s effects on the environment and society at large.
Pollution, for instance, is one of the negative environmental impacts of space exploration, while inspiring the youth and upcoming generations to take up aeronautics is a positive societal effect. Space exploration has had and continues to have, a profound effect on the environment and society.
From Yuri Gagarin’s achievement of becoming the first man in space, all the way to today’s almost fortnightly SpaceX launches (not to mention a certain moon landing). Space still presents endless wonder for humanity, and we know we’ve barely scratched the surface. If you are one of those who have wondered how space travel affects society and the environment, you are in luck.
What are the positive effects of space exploration on the environment?
Believe it or not, space travel has played a massive role in the green movement over the past several decades. Let’s take a very brief look at some examples.
Technologies such as satellite imaging and mapping have helped scientists to develop monitoring infrastructure to help people understand weather patterns, air quality, forest density, and water cycles. More importantly, we are now able to get this data in real-time, which allows for quicker response times and adjustments. Conservationists, for example, can get clearer pictures of the extent of rainforest depletion in certain areas. These can then be used as evidence in local courts to encourage the imposition of certain environmental measures on time.
NASA was, and still is, one of the leading lights in the area of effective waste management. NASA deals with a lot of experimental chemicals and metal alloys whose long-term environmental impact may be unclear. Therefore, the importance of proper waste disposal cannot be overstated. The space administration’s waste management efforts are the star tenet of its Recycling & Sustainable Acquisition policy.
Space science is also partially responsible for refining and popularizing certain alternative energy sources. Batteries? Space science. Wind, thermal reactor, and solar? Space science.
What are the negative effects of space exploration on the environment?
When it comes to the environment, space exploration has an almost insignificant negative impact. Don’t get me wrong, most major space launches, for example, deposit various harmful substances into the environment. However, at present, most environmental concerns hinge on the possibility that the number of space launches and expeditions could increase in the future. With planned missions to Mars, Jupiter, and the anticipated rise of space tourism, our environment on Earth could be in for a rude awakening.
CO2 emissions are one of the bigger problems we see on an individual launch level. Another one is soot (black carbon), which can remain in the upper reaches of the atmosphere for five years. If the soot is allowed to build up sufficiently, it will form a heat-trapping umbrella that prevents terrestrial radiation from escaping into space…which causes global warming. Soot is a waste product of kerosene burning rockets, such as SpaceX’s Falcon 9 which releases about 1,115 tonnes of soot and CO2.
The Falcon 9 is the highest-profile launch vehicle in the U.S. space-going fleet. This is worrying, from an environmental perspective, because this rocket is set to be the backbone of the Starlink program, which involves the launch of 12,000 communications satellites. The Falcon 9 will be largely responsible for hauling these satellites into space on top of its NASA missions to the International Space Station.
Other environmental concerns are aluminum oxide, whose shiny particles can deflect incoming heat back into space. Some rockets and shuttles also release acids as a waste product. Highly corrosive substances like hydrochloric acid have been known to acidify water supplies, kill plant life, and even harm soil fertility.
The Good news for SpaceX is that the newer Starship with the Raptor engines will use methane as the fuel which is a lot better for the environment than kerosene.
What are the positive effects of space exploration on society?
For the everyday man or woman, the societal benefits of space exploration may appear extremely minimal or even non-existent. If you are one of the people who think like this, I’m afraid you have no idea just how wrong you are.
Society, as a whole, has benefitted from space travel and its associated innovations and technologies. In fact, since 1962 NASA has had offices that track the adoption of technologies in society, as well as the industrial application of certain technology and procedures. In 1976 they also launched Spinoff, an annual publication that highlights the latest and greatest NASA-influenced technologies, and their viability in the commercial arena. Since its establishment, Spinoff has profiled more than 2,000 products and services that are either developed by or in partnership with NASA, or based on NASA patents, research, and other resources.
The 2013 edition featured one interesting profile on the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME), and how it’s physical properties can apply to the development of solar power plants. The engine is made of a copper alloy named NARLOY-Z, which allows the engine to withstand incredible temperature ranges (-358oF-6000 oF). This is perfect for constructing a solar-powered plant, which is exactly what parent company Pratt & Whitney did in Nevada. They created an awesome 110-megawatt tower of power that provides electricity to more than 75,000 homes. The success of the project has triggered the development of such solar facilities in other areas of the world.
Of course, other societal benefits that stem from space exploration include things we often take for granted, such as GPS, wireless communications, satellite weather monitoring…just to name a few. Let’s not forget the millions of kids worldwide who draw inspiration from their favorite space walking heroes.
What are the negative effects of space exploration on society?
Like most things involving human beings, space exploration’s impact on society is not always perfect. Unsurprisingly, problems and controversies abound in a field were breaking new ground is a permanent fixture of the job description.
Perhaps the most common argument against space exploration is the sheer cost of everything that comes with it. Ascending to the heavens is not cheap, and there is very little wiggle room where cost-cutting is concerned because every bit of technology and expertise is needed to ensure safe operations. For the year 2020, NASA had a budget of US$22.6 billion. While that only represents about 0.5% of the total US fiscal budget for the same year, a lot of people still decry the decision to spend tens of billions of tax-payer dollars on “spaceships” while other social problems like unemployment, healthcare, and student loans appear irreparable.
Like I said before, we have barely scratched the surface of space exploration. This walking in the dark, though thrilling, has potential for danger. Exploring new planets and moons in our solar system and beyond may leave equipment, or even astronauts, exposed to foreign elements and pathogens that could be accidentally brought back to Earth. This one sounds a bit like sci-fi, but you never know.