SpaceX’s Starship rocket, praised as the world’s most ambitious spacecraft is specifically designed to take humans to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
As it pushes through the boundaries of space exploration, one crucial question arises in the mind of the readers: how much greenhouse gas does Starship emit? This is a significant concern, especially in a world grappling with climate change.
With its ambition of facilitating missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, understanding the emissions associated with the operation of Starship is extremely essential.
When compared to other traditional rockets, Starship is powered by a combination of liquid methane and liquid oxygen which is relatively cleaner compared to other rocket fuels.
Let us now delve deep into the greenhouse gas emissions from Starship and see how the innovative fuel choices impact the environment.
Understanding Starship’s Emission
Elon Musk has a bold vision that aims to make space travel more accessible and affordable and Starship Rocket is paving the way for a similar multi-planetary future.
The exact amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted by SpaceX’s Starship rocket hasn’t been quantified yet as the emissions are largely dependent on the type and also on quantity of the fuel that is being used.
But the FAA said it would approximately emit a total of 97,342 tonnes of CO2 equivalent or 3894 tonnes per launch.
We can therefore conclude by saying that Starship emits as much gas as 846 cars would emit over a year.
However, the hundreds of launches in the future will raise significant concerns about emissions and their impact on climate change.
If there is a total of three launches per day then according to estimates the total annual launch will be around 3,056,418 tonnes of carbon dioxide. If this is the case then it will pose a great threat to the environment.
Starship uses liquid methane (CH4) and liquid oxygen (LOX) which is cleaner as compared to other rocket fuels such as kerosene. But still, it is known to produce a substantial amount of carbon dioxide and water vapor which in itself is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG).
Also, methane is another powerful greenhouse gas that traps heat in a more significant way and more effectively than CO2.
Starship Rocket Fuels Versus Other Rocket Fuels
Starship’s fuel choice sets it apart as it focuses on liquid methane as fuel and liquid oxygen as the oxidizer resulting in a combination known as “Methalox”.
Here’s a comparison overview:
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Methane/LOX (Starship)
Combustion Products: CO2, H2O
Environmental Impact: Lower CO2 and potential methane leakage
Reusability: High (Cleaner engines)
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RP-1/LOX (Falcon 9)
Combustion Products: CO2, soot, hydrocarbons
Environmental Impact: Higher CO2, a significant amount of soot production
Reusability: Medium (Requires Cleaning)
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Solid Rocket Boosters
Combustion Products: CO2, aluminum oxide, chlorine compounds
Environmental Impact: Toxic pollutants, ozone depletion
Reusability: None
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Hypergolic Fuels
Combustion Products: NOx, toxic exhaust
Environmental Impact: High NOx and toxic chemicals emissions
Reusability: Low
How Expensive Is Starship?
The Starship program began in 2012 and had an estimated cost between $5 billion and $10 billion for the development process.
It is likely to conclude that the internal launch cost of Starship will almost approach $10-20M and that includes the fixed, and variable costs but without the development cost. So, the actual market price will be double that.
However, Payload Research has submitted a 36-page report on the Starship cost by giving a detailed explanation of the same. It also hinted at the profit margin that SpaceX might earn from it.
Was Starship Launch A Success?
SpaceX successfully launched its massive Starship rocket from Boca China, TX amid the rising concerns about the environmental impact of Starship launches and also successfully brought it back to the launch pad.
This mighty space rocket splashed down in the Indian Ocean without any fiery explosion. Here’s what Musk wrote in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter.
The explosion in the Indian Ocean was recorded and hence it is a testament that it has landed with the perfect precision achieved by the Starship on this flight.
SpaceX’s 400-foot rocket is also expected to play a very important role in NASA’s efforts to return the astronauts to the Moon.
Purpose And Mission Of Starship
Elon Musk’s vision of making space exploration more accessible and ultimately helping humanity to become a multi-planetary species is one of the main purposes and missions of a starship.
Below are some more:
- The ultimate purpose of the Starship is to transport humans to Mars and facilitate the idea of constructing and supporting a Mars colony.
- Starship has also been designed to be used as a key vehicle for space tourism and offers private citizens the opportunity to travel to space.
- It’s ideal for deploying large satellites or entire constellations of satellites together in a single launch.
- Starships can also be used for deep-space scientific exploration.
- Starship plays a significant role in supporting missions for mining asteroids for valuable resources such as water, metals, and minerals.
What Steps Did SpaceX Take To Mitigate Its Impact On The Environment?
Since SpaceX is aware of the environmental implications of Starship it has taken significant steps to mitigate its impact. Some key initiatives taken by SpaceX to mitigate its impact on the environment are discussed below:
- The reusable design significantly reduces the overall carbon footprint for multiple missions and minimizes the need for new launches.
- SpaceX has explored the possibility of using carbon capture and storage technologies that involve storing and capturing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it underground.
- Lastly, SpaceX is continuously working on improving the efficiency of Starship’s engines and optimizing the fuel-to-thrust ratio.
Key Components Of The Starship Rocket System
The SpaceX Starship Rocket System is a revolutionary one that aims to transport humans and cargo on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
It consists of two main components: the Super Heavy Booster and the Starship Spacecraft along with some preliminary ones that play a critical role in making space travel more cost-effective and scalable.
Super Heavy Booster (First Stage)
Super Heavy booster is the first stage which stands 69 meters tall and is powered by 33 Raptor engines.
It burns methane and liquid oxygen and produces over 16 million pounds of thrust.
This booster is designed to be reusable and lands back on a launch pad or in the ocean after it gets separated.
Starship Spacecraft (Upper Stage)
Starship Spacecraft is generally 50 meters tall and 9 meters in diameter is equipped with six Raptor engines and can carry up to 100-150 tons of payload to low Earth orbit.
Propellant Tanks
The propellant tanks have a capacity of about 1200 tons and are specifically designed to withstand high pressure along with temperatures during flight.
Raptor Engines
Starship uses Raptor Engines that are fueled by liquid methane and liquid oxygen and enable long-duration missions beyond Earth’s orbit without the need for constant re-supply from Earth.
Heat Shields
The heat shield is made up of advanced materials and is designed to withstand multiple atmospheric re-entries.
Payload Bay
The large cargo area known as the payload bay is customized for different versions and has a reusable configuration.
It accommodates and carries up to 150 metric tons of cargo to low Earth orbit.
Grid Fins
The four electrically actuated grid fins help in aerodynamic controls that in turn improve stability and accuracy while landing.
It is made from heat-resistant materials to withstand extreme temperatures and forces during descent.
Body Flaps
The Starship also consists of four body flaps that control the orientation and allow it to land on celestial bodies that too in the absence of traditional runaways.
Launch Tower
This structure specifically supports the rocket during the pre-launch activities and includes mechanical arms that are known to catch the booster.
Landing Legs
The Starship spacecraft is equipped with landing legs that are required for vertical and precision landings on the Moon, Earth, Mars, or any other planetary services.
It is a crucial part of SpaceX’s vision for interplanetary travel and is known to provide stability and versatility for safe landings on unknown terrain.
Will Starship Be The Most Environmentally Friendly Rocket Ever Built?
Even if Starship is designed as one of the most environmentally friendly rockets that can be ever built there are significant concerns regarding the environmental impact.
Here are some of the factors that will explain how SpaceX’s Starship might be the most environmentally friendly rocket:
1. Cleaner Propellants
Starship is powered by liquid oxygen and liquid methane that produces less soot and fewer particles during the combustion process. It is less toxic as compared to other traditional rockets.
Whereas, some rockets use toxic hypergolic fuels or solid rocket boosters that release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.
2. Re-usability
Starship is designed to be completely reusable, unlike other rockets which in turn reduces the overall material waste. Re-usability reduces resource consumption thereby reducing the need to constantly mine, process, and transport materials for building new rockets for every flight.
3. Reduction Of Soot And Pollution
Methane does not create the same soot and carbon dioxide that are being produced by rockets like Falcon 9 hence it doesn’t require much cleaning and maintenance between flights. It also results in cleaner and faster operations.
Also, Methane, doesn’t produce many pollutants thereby minimizing its environmental impact on the ground.
4. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Methane is itself a potent Greenhouse gas and its leakage from the rocket or during the production phase can contribute to the overall change in the climate. CO2 is also another Greenhouse gas that is being emitted by Starship.
But even if SpaceX’s Starship incorporates some environmentally friendly technologies and fuels, it doesn’t necessarily shut the concerns related to environmental issues. Nevertheless, it avoids many of the harmful pollutants that are associated with other rockets.
Future Considerations
As SpaceX’s Starship continues to evolve it holds potential for transforming space travel and exploration. Each test flight brings valuable insights that refine and re-design the capabilities of this revolutionary rocket system.
Elon Musk has also expressed a very strong desire for a future version of Starship that will be capable of interstellar travel and so SpaceX is making significant efforts to make Starship reusable which will in turn play a very significant role in balancing technological progress with environmental factors.
Closure
While Starship promises unprecedented advancements and access to space its greenhouse gas emissions remain challenging.
The rocket’s re-usability significantly reduces the environmental impact over time, but it doesn’t eliminate it.