Is SpaceX the next air pollution frontier?

The recent election of Trump and alliance with Elon Musk may lead to massive increases in SpaceX rocket launches for megaconstellation, moon and Mars missions. All these processes produce pollutants, as rockets burn thousands of tonnes of fuel and exotic materials are burned when reusable rockets and decommissioned satellites re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. The pollutants that are produced deplete stratospheric ozone and alter climate by changing the amount of light reflected or absorbed by the atmosphere. The climate effect is greater than pollution produced on Earth, as rockets and re-entries inject pollutants directly into the upper layers of the atmosphere. 

Climate and ozone are the effects we know about! There may be others that need to be explored. There is also an urgent need for this research, as there are no policies in place to mitigate harm. In this project, the student will construct an emissions dataset of SpaceX pollution and conduct model experiments to quantify the atmospheric impacts. Results from recent real-world experiments measuring pollution from rockets and re-entries will also be used to inform the modelling work. 

The findings from this research will directly inform policies through supervisor team links to ESA, the UN, and aviation authorities. 

No prior space sector or computer modelling experience is needed. Hands-on, bespoke training will be provided by the lead supervisor and members of their research group.