Post by garyriccio on May 27, 2020 21:22:11 GMT
Current status and emerging alternatives for the carbon footprint of rocket launches mentioned in this LA Times article
From the article:
"Upon reaching orbit, the world’s heaviest operational rocket [SpaceX Falcon Heavy] will have burned about 400 metric tons of kerosene and emitted more carbon dioxide in a few minutes than an average car would in more than two centuries."
"Fueled by surging data transmissions and the race for commercial space flights between Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc., the number of launches — including giants such as the Falcon Heavy and new mini-rockets — is expected to increase tenfold to roughly 1,000 annually in the coming years."
"Blue Origin’s strategy is potentially more environmentally friendly, with plans for liquid hydrogen to propel its reusable rockets."
"British rocket maker Orbex. The start-up, founded in 2015 and which has a contract with U.S. launch integrator TriSept Corp., uses bio propane that it says can cut CO2 emissions by 90% compared with traditional launch fuel."
"ArianeGroup is going a step further. Europe’s biggest launch company is working on a rocket that aims to be carbon-neutral by running on methane produced from biomass. Dubbed Ariane Next, the heavy-launcher project targets liftoff in 2030."
"Reducing soot and CO2 by 25% to 40% is more realistic, said Daniel Metzler, CEO of the German rocket start-up ISAR Aerospace, founded in 2018. His rocket — also scheduled to lift off in late 2021 — will decrease soot pollution by using a liquid fuel based on a light hydrocarbon"
From the article:
"Upon reaching orbit, the world’s heaviest operational rocket [SpaceX Falcon Heavy] will have burned about 400 metric tons of kerosene and emitted more carbon dioxide in a few minutes than an average car would in more than two centuries."
"Fueled by surging data transmissions and the race for commercial space flights between Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc., the number of launches — including giants such as the Falcon Heavy and new mini-rockets — is expected to increase tenfold to roughly 1,000 annually in the coming years."
"Blue Origin’s strategy is potentially more environmentally friendly, with plans for liquid hydrogen to propel its reusable rockets."
"British rocket maker Orbex. The start-up, founded in 2015 and which has a contract with U.S. launch integrator TriSept Corp., uses bio propane that it says can cut CO2 emissions by 90% compared with traditional launch fuel."
"ArianeGroup is going a step further. Europe’s biggest launch company is working on a rocket that aims to be carbon-neutral by running on methane produced from biomass. Dubbed Ariane Next, the heavy-launcher project targets liftoff in 2030."
"Reducing soot and CO2 by 25% to 40% is more realistic, said Daniel Metzler, CEO of the German rocket start-up ISAR Aerospace, founded in 2018. His rocket — also scheduled to lift off in late 2021 — will decrease soot pollution by using a liquid fuel based on a light hydrocarbon"