The Cold War's Space Cemetery: Junk in the Sky and Climate Change
Written on
Chapter 1: The Fall of Mir
On March 23, 2001, at precisely 8:59 a.m. Moscow time, a group of Russian astronauts located on Southern Fiji's island looked skyward in anticipation. Suddenly, a dazzling array of golden lights illuminated the sky, leaving behind a smoky trail. This spectacle marked the conclusion of the Mir space station's extensive journey of 1.9 billion kilometers (1.2 billion miles) around the Earth. After a series of meticulously calculated thruster burns, Mir's 134-ton structure re-entered the atmosphere, ultimately crashing into the South Pacific Ocean Uninhabited Area (SPOUA), a region 34 times larger than France that surrounds Point Nemo—a well-known site for decommissioned spacecraft.
Section 1.1: Point Nemo's Isolation
Envision a stark, frigid stretch of the South Pacific, roughly 2,688 kilometers (1,670 miles) from the closest piece of land. This area, which is larger than the Mediterranean Sea, is marked by towering waves and relentless winds, creating an eerie atmosphere of isolation. Surprisingly, the nearest "inhabitants" are not fishermen or sailors but astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), orbiting just 415 kilometers (258 miles) above. Named after the famous submarine captain from Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Point Nemo stands as the most remote part of the ocean, where the seafloor plunges to an astounding depth of 13,000 feet (2.5 miles).
Between 1971 and 2018, leading space nations—such as the United States, Russia, Japan, and Europe—intentionally deorbited over 263 spacecraft into the uninhabited waters of Point Nemo. This list includes the Mir space station, a symbol of the Cold War rivalry, alongside numerous Russian resupply vehicles and cargo transports from Japan and ESA. Recently, rumors suggest that parts of a SpaceX capsule may have also joined this oceanic repository.
The video title is "The Cold War: Crash Course US History #37 - YouTube." It offers an overview of the Cold War, including its impact on space exploration and technology, providing context for understanding the legacy of events like the Mir space station's re-entry.
Section 1.2: Surviving the Fall
What happens to these spacecraft as they descend through the atmosphere? The reality is that much of Mir and similar debris may not survive the intense conditions of re-entry. Traveling at speeds of 28,164 km/h (17,500 mph)—22 times the speed of sound—space debris creates immense pressure that can result in chemical bonds breaking and the formation of superheated plasma. While smaller fragments often disintegrate before reaching the Earth, larger pieces, designed to withstand extreme conditions, might endure. These remnants can include fuel tanks, boosters, and other robust components, with some pieces potentially as large as small vehicles.
Subsection 1.2.1: Environmental Consequences of Space Travel
The portrayal of space travel in popular culture often overlooks the environmental ramifications. The combustion of rocket fuels releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, with one of the most notorious being UDMH (unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine), infamous for its carcinogenic properties. This chemical has poisoned the Kazakh Steppe, the site of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, where historical launches took place.
The surge in space missions—144 worldwide in 2021—is driven by lower launch costs and increased reliance on satellite technology, raising concerns about atmospheric emissions. Although the total emissions from space launches remain small compared to commercial aviation, rockets release pollutants higher into the atmosphere, where they persist longer. Research indicates that emissions from space tourism could significantly exacerbate black carbon levels, with potentially detrimental effects on the climate and ozone layer.
Chapter 2: The Intersection of Space Junk and Climate Change
As the volume of space debris continues to rise, the implications for both space access and our planet's environment grow increasingly dire. While the atmospheric conditions help to mitigate space debris through natural decay, rising carbon dioxide levels are thinning the upper atmosphere, hindering this process. A study indicated that the amount of space debris could soar by 50 times by 2100 if current trends continue.
In recent years, the number of objects in low Earth orbit has skyrocketed, with over 21,006 objects larger than four inches currently tracked. The consequences of this burgeoning space junk problem could hinder future access to space and complicate our environmental challenges on Earth.
A Grave Oversight
As we become more reliant on technology that utilizes satellites—such as GPS and satellite imagery—we must consider the environmental cost of our advanced lifestyles. The rapid increase in satellite launches, combined with the absence of robust regulations, raises pressing questions about the sustainability of our space endeavors.
The haunting silence of Point Nemo serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of our relentless pursuit of progress. As we look to the future, we must confront the potential repercussions of our actions—both in space and on Earth. The ticking clock of our environmental impact poses the question: who will bear the burden of our unquenchable thirst for exploration when the consequences of our expansion come crashing down?