<
https://theconversation.com/spacex-rocket-left-behind-a-plume-of-chemical-pollution-as-it-burnt-up-in-the-atmosphere-276266>
"Space junk returning to the Earth is introducing metal pollution to the
pristine upper atmosphere as it burns up on re-entry, a new study has found.
Published today in the journal
Communications Earth & Environment, the study
was led by Robin Wing from the Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics in
Germany. Using highly sensitive lasers, he and his team of international
researchers observed a plume of lithium pollution, tracking it back to the
uncontrolled re-entry of a discarded Space X Falcon 9 rocket upper stage.
This is the first observational evidence that re-entering space debris leaves a
detectable, human-caused chemical fingerprint in the upper atmosphere. This was
also the first time a pollutant plume from a specific space junk re-entry event
has been monitored from the ground.
With many more satellite launches planned for the future, this event won’t be
the last. It highlights the urgent need for governments and the space industry
to tackle this problem before it gets out of hand."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
