From Outer Space to Ocean Depths: The  Spacecraft Cemeteryy and the Protection of the Marine Environment in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction

Lucia, Vito De; Iavicoli, Viviana

doi:10.2139/ssrn.3153458

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Air routes pass 3000–5000 km from the station location. Products of combustion of flooded artificial earth satellites. The burial area (point Nemo) is located 5400 km away (De Lucia & Iavicoli, 2018). Micrometeorites and ablation spherules burning in the Earth's atmosphere (Genge, 2016; Genge et al., 2008; Glukhov et al., 2020; Korchagin, 2013; Taylor et al., 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extraterrestrial dust flux monitoring at Antarctic Vostok station: New collection of extraterrestrial spherules fallen from May to September 2017

Chetverikov

Ежов

Glukhov

et al. 2023

Meteorit & Planetary Scien

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Dust particles obtained by filtering fresh snow collected from May to September 2017 in the vicinity of Vostok station in Antarctica were examined using a scanning electron microscope. The collection of dust particles contains 197 spherules ranging from 0.5 to 117 μm in diameter, the most abundant ones (n = 188) by far being iron oxide spherules. Analyses of meteorological and human activity data suggest an extraterrestrial origin of most of the spherical particles. The particle size distribution histogram showed a smooth increase in their number with decreasing size and a dramatic drop at sizes smaller than 3 μm. The number of spherical particles has an uneven distribution over time, with an intense peak in July 27-28, 2017 which correlates by dates with the peak of the Southern Delta Aquariids meteor shower. The size distribution of the particles collected during the same period indicates the presence of a mechanism that accelerates their fall to the Earth. We propose that they are effective centers of condensation of ice crystals in stratospheric clouds. Our data indicate that collection of micrometeorites with sizes of several microns from the fresh snow is possible, opening a new way for sampling micrometeorites, including separate meteor showers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extraterrestrial dust flux monitoring at Antarctic Vostok station: New collection of extraterrestrial spherules fallen from May to September 2017

Chetverikov

Ежов

Glukhov

et al. 2023

Meteorit & Planetary Scien

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“…Fortunately, allowing rocket bodies to reenter in an uncontrolled manner is increasingly becoming a choice rather than a technological limitation. Controlled reentries from orbit require engines that can reignite, enabling the launch provider to direct the rocket body away from populated areas, usually into a remote area of ocean 16 . Some older rocket models that lack reignitable engines are still used by some launch providers; these will need to be upgraded or replaced to achieve a safe, controlled reentry regime.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yet it is no longer necessary to abandon rocket bodies in orbit, leaving them to reenter the atmosphere in an uncontrolled way. With a bit more fuel and engines that can reignite, controlled reentries can be achieved [36]. Of course, any controlled reentry regime will result in extra costs, and while government missions should be able to absorb these costs, they could affect the ability of a commercial launch provider to compete.…”

Section: A Collective Action Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unnecessary risks created by uncontrolled rocket reentries

et al. 2022

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Most space launches result in uncontrolled rocket body reentries, creating casualty risks for people on the ground, at sea and in aeroplanes. These risks have long been treated as negligible, but the number of rocket bodies abandoned in orbit is growing, while rocket bodies from past launches continue to reenter the atmosphere due to gas drag. Using publicly available reports of rocket launches and data on abandoned rocket bodies in orbit, we calculate approximate casualty expectations due to rocket body reentries as a function of latitude. The distribution of rocket body launches and reentries leads to the casualty expectation (that is, risk to human life) being disproportionately borne by populations in the Global South, with major launching states exporting risk to the rest of the world. We argue that recent improvements in technology and mission design make most of these uncontrolled reentries unnecessary, but that launching states and companies are reluctant to take on the increased costs involved. Those national governments whose populations are being put at risk should demand that major spacefaring states act, together, to mandate controlled rocket reentries, create meaningful consequences for non-compliance and thus eliminate the risks for everyone.

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“…Uncontrolled re-entries do not always meet safety standards 17 , a situation that may be exacerbated by mega-constellations. Moreover, the cumulative impact of thousands of rocket stages on the ocean environment could be significant should those stages contain hazardous materials, such as unspent hydrazine fuels [17][18][19] . In the 1990s, Pacific island countries opposed the Sea Launch project because of environmental concerns, including from discarded rocket stages 20 .…”

Section: Surface Impacts and Atmospheric Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Satellite mega-constellations create risks in Low Earth Orbit, the atmosphere and on Earth

Boley

Byers

2021

Sci Rep

116

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The rapid development of mega-constellations risks multiple tragedies of the commons, including tragedies to ground-based astronomy, Earth orbit, and Earth’s upper atmosphere. Moreover, the connections between the Earth and space environments are inadequately taken into account by the adoption of a consumer electronic model applied to space assets. For example, we point out that satellite re-entries from the Starlink mega-constellation alone could deposit more aluminum into Earth’s upper atmosphere than what is done through meteoroids; they could thus become the dominant source of high-altitude alumina. Using simple models, we also show that untracked debris will lead to potentially dangerous on-orbit collisions on a regular basis due to the large number of satellites within mega-constellation orbital shells. The total cross-section of satellites in these constellations also greatly increases the risk of impacts due to meteoroids. De facto orbit occupation by single actors, inadequate regulatory frameworks, and the possibility of free-riding exacerbate these risks. International cooperation is urgently needed, along with a regulatory system that takes into account the effects of tens of thousands of satellites.

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From Outer Space to Ocean Depths: The Spacecraft Cemeteryy and the Protection of the Marine Environment in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction

Cited by 6 publications

References 5 publications

Extraterrestrial dust flux monitoring at Antarctic Vostok station: New collection of extraterrestrial spherules fallen from May to September 2017

Extraterrestrial dust flux monitoring at Antarctic Vostok station: New collection of extraterrestrial spherules fallen from May to September 2017

Unnecessary risks created by uncontrolled rocket reentries

Satellite mega-constellations create risks in Low Earth Orbit, the atmosphere and on Earth

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