2 ms·
Each launch puts a few hundred tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, not counting emissions during construction. So each one is not a disaster, but if they're doing
by sp332 7y ago
Each launch puts a few hundred tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, not counting emissions during construction. So each one is not a disaster, but if they're doing a ton of launches per year that adds up quickly.
- gpm 7y agoDoes it add up though? If each launch moves 100 american-person-years of CO2 production off of the planet, that's... 1600 tons of CO2 that isn't being released. 100 person years per launch seems like a vast under-estimate too. (Number sourced from the first paper that appeared when I searched "CO2 footprint of the average american" - https://externalassets.cooleffect.org/lib/content/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/05172819/CarbonFootprint_AverageAmerican.pdf https://externalassets.cooleffect.org/lib/content/wp-content...) In the grand scheme of things I doubt enough people will go to mars to make a significant positive difference, but that's nearly synonymous with saying I doubt there will be enough rocket launches to make a difference.