Space travel and exploration are always tricky. In today’s green economy, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to justify the resource-intensive processes. Rockets use thousands of gallons of high-octane fuel, and satellites now orbit the planet in the thousands, creating space junk that pollutes the orbital space. However, space innovation companies are taking notice, and more sustainable solutions are being developed across the globe.
The European Space Agency (ESA) says today’s space tech could get us back to the Moon. The setback is the cost. Developing the rockets to get there, in addition to lunar rovers and life-support gear for months-long trips, is no small penny.
The ESA believes a commercial approach to sustainable space travel will save more money in the long run. They might puddle-jump on commercial landers to deliver research equipment to the International Space Station.
Space exploration requires a lot of supplies, especially water and oxygen. Microbial innovations could create a self-contained atmosphere.
According to the ESA, algae, bacteria, plants, chemicals, and other microorganisms could process waste into “never-ending fresh supplies of oxygen, water, and food.”
Tests are being conducted in Barcelona, Spain, using rats in a closed ecosystem. The results can determine if life can be supported by microbial processes in space.
Photo Courtesy European Space Agency
Rockets used to be a one-and-done type of scenario. NASA would launch space shuttle flights using a designated launcher, but these rockets were retired after one use. SpaceX changed that with the Falcon 9 two-stage rocket. Reusable rockets would cut down on costs exponentially. The Falcon 9 has already driven costs down by 40%, with costs nearing $62 million for launch.
SpaceX recently conducted a successful test launch of its Starship booster rocket. This was a huge achievement, and it could start a new wave of efficient, lower-impact space travel. The booster returned to a launching stand and was caught by the support tower.
Photo Courtesy SpaceX
3D-printed rockets are another sustainable solution to the rocket question. California startup Relativity Space is working on two-stage rockets but 3D printed. The fuel would also be more planet-friendly, consisting of liquid oxygen and natural gas. Relativity Space’s rockets can be printed in 60 days. The company already has agreements to launch its product from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in 2026.
Unmanned spacecraft are also becoming more sustainable. Satellite arrays have aided farmers with agricultural planning. They can also help track methane leaks, help with reforestation, and aid in cleaning space junk, which remains one of the bigger problems of space exploration.
Companies like Astroscale are trying to clear some of these old or out-of-service satellites, space capsules, and other junk orbiting Earth.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has been researching a space junk with giant nets. Some startups are working to prolong the lifespan of satellites rather than making brand-new ones.
Clearing space junk has profound implications on space weather and overcrowding in the low earth orbit zone. Space weather can harm satellites due to electrical discharges and damage to on-orbit electronics.
Atmospheric drag increases during solar storms, which increase a spacecraft’s altitude, adding more drag and degrading performance. There are also concerns about Kessler syndrome occurring when low-earth orbiting satellites collide, creating more debris fields.
There’s still a long way to go to make space travel sustainable. More research is needed, especially regarding space junk and reusing rocket thrusters. However, technology is advancing rapidly, and more experiments are being conducted to prove these aspirations are possible.
