Space activity and environmental quality

Abstract

ABSTRACT Space exploration has gained momentum over the last few decades. But what are the environmental impacts of space activity? While climatologists have a keen interest in this question, economic research into it is limited. In this paper, we investigate the impact of U.S. space activity on the quality of the environment. We apply the two-stage least squares method to time series data collected between 1981 and 2021. The results indicate that objects, payloads, and rocket bodies launched into space degrade the quality of the environment. Specifically, the results show that the launch of objects into space has a positive impact on footprint levels, CO2 footprint levels, non-CO2 footprint levels, global temperature, CO2 emissions, and greenhouse gas emissions. These results are corroborated by payloads and rocket bodies activities in space. Overall, the results suggest that objects, payloads, and rocket bodies increase demand for natural resources, contribute to climate change, and increase pollution.