The pressure surrounding the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, (COP26), has shown that climate change is the most pressing global problem we face today. It requires all countries and sectors to take action.
Space access is crucial for understanding climate change. Satellites are essential for measuring the Earth’s temperature, greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric gases, sea levels, ice and other properties. This data is extremely accurate and provides valuable information for scientists to analyze and predict the effects of climate change. This will enable them to make informed decisions and take effective strategies to reduce or mitigate adverse changes.
The U.K. government has ambitious plans for small satellite launches and the development a wider space economy. This includes following best international and community practices in sustainability and environment. A key part of the recently published National Space Strategy is to increase our understanding of how space technologies can help address climate change. This strategy has a 10-point goal: combating climate change with space technology.
Launch Environment
The U.K. government created the UK Spaceflight Programme to regulate the U.K. spaceport and launch operators. This requires them to understand the environment and the risks associated with their operations.
Successful delivery of international obligations by the U.K., including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, is dependent on commercial spaceflight being properly regulated and managed. The U.K. government works with the industry to harness sustainability through regulation, policy and sustainable technology investment. These policies and practices are connected to raising investment through ESG perspectives.
The 2018 Space Industry Act establishes the legal framework that will allow the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), to regulate spaceflight activities in the U.K. It also requires potential launch operator licensees and spaceport licensees, to prepare an assessment of the environmental impacts (AEE) of their proposed activities. A spaceport or launch operator license is not granted by the regulator unless an AEE has already been submitted and reviewed. The AEE must also comply with existing environmental planning and planning legislation.
The CAAs environmental goals, which seek to support the U.K.’s sustainable development and environmental goals, capture the local and international impacts of spaceflight activities. They also reflect the UNSDGs, national planning policies, including the governments Net Zero strategy and Build Back Better: Our plan for growth. These are part of an ambitious environmental governance framework that ensures the U.K. fulfills its UNSDG and environmental commitments.
Spaceport and Launch Operators’ Environmental Commitments
The licensing framework encourages U.K. launch and spaceport operators to support the U.K.’s environmental commitments.
Cornwall Council is Spaceport Cornwall’s principal sponsor. They have committed to making Cornwall’s economy net zero by 2030. Cornwall Council will publish its Sustainability Impact Report, an action plan, and an ethical framework in January 2022. This report will include a commitment to transparency and engagement with the community. It works closely with Virgin Orbit as its launch partner and the University of Exeter in order to mitigate, offset, lower and reduce the environmental impact of launch. They also invest in R&D areas such biofuels. Its education outreach program focuses on the importance of space technology to local school children.
The design and construction of horizontal launch site development at Prestwick Spaceport, Ayrshire, is subject to approval by the business case. This project aims to achieve net-zero operational emission. Prestwick Spaceport was granted an environmental screening opportunity and is currently submitting its application for planning. They are committed to working with Astraius, their launch service partner, to achieve these goals, as per the Scottish government’s climate change plan.
The spaceport plans to use best practice carbon management techniques, such as PAS 2080: Carbon Management In Infrastructure. Its payload processing facilities and launch vehicle integration facilities will use RICS whole-life carbon assessment for the built environment. These efforts, in conjunction with the Prestwickshire Growth deal, contribute towards the low-carbon growth of the Space and Aerospace Campus.
SaxaVord Spaceport, Shetland, aims to achieve space, environmental, and social sustainability through an integrated approach to operations, launch, management, and maintenance of the spaceport, and related activities. SaxaVord partnered with Pure Energy, an international supplier of renewable power, to exploit local tidal, wind, and solar energy for ground station, and data center operations. SaxaVord plans on establishing a research and technology center. Its goals include educating and promoting space environmental awareness.
Spaceport1 in Outer Hebrides could be a suborbital launch location, enabling environmental science as well as test missions for launch vehicles. These launches help to understand and measure the atmosphere in the space between aircraft/balloon altitudes and Low Earth Orbit. Suborbital launch allows launch vehicle manufacturers to develop vehicles/propellers/mixes incrementally. This maximizes rocket motor efficiency while measuring and refining omissions.
Discover Space UK wants to establish a test-bed for future green aviation infrastructure and operations. Machrihanish airbase is located on the Kintyre peninsula and has a lot of wind power for green electricity generation. Offshore wind is being used to power on-site hydrogen generation facilities to supply the local community as well as businesses.
Propellants that are environmentally friendly
Companies are developing innovative propellants in the United Kingdom to ensure that spaceflight activities have a minimal environmental impact.
Orbex aims to launch the most environmentally-friendly spacecraft in the world. According to University of Exeter, Orbex Prime launches would produce as much as 86 percent less emissions than similar-sized vertical launch vehicles powered by fossil fuels. This is due to the fact that a similar-sized vehicle powered by fossil fuels emits higher levels of blackcarbon, particulate matter caused by incomplete combustion. This is a major contributor to climate changes. Prime’s environmental credentials are influenced by its choice of fuel. BioLPG is made from propane, a waste byproduct of renewable diesel production.
Skyrora, a Scottish rocket design and manufacturing company is developing Ecosene. This innovative fuel is made from non-recyclable plastics. Skyrora claims Ecosene when combined with High Test Peroxide produces 45 percent less CO2 than traditional liquid propellents solutions. This reduces launch’s environmental impact. Ecosene can be made from most plastics, with the highest yield being polystyrene. Only 7 percent of U.K.’s polystyrene-waste is currently recycled. Skyrora estimates that it can produce 600kg of usable fuel using 1000 kilograms waste polymers in less than 24 hours. It also plans to recycle up 254 metric tons annually.
Wales’s goal is to become a Sustainable Space Nation. Alan Davies, Space Wales Development manager, stated, “Weve got some great companies already advancing solutions that have a positive environmental theme.” Smallspark Systems is developing small satellites powered with non-toxic, high performance propellants. Space Forge will launch its first in-space manufacturing satellite in 2022. The B2Space balloon launch system is focused on small and microsatellite launches.
Space technology and access to space will continue to play a significant role in improving our understanding and implementing effective solutions to climate change. Through the delivery of U.K. environmental commitments and the pioneering work of U.K. launch communities, the U.K. is committed to minimizing the negative impact of spaceflight activities on our environment. This will help us to protect our planet and create prosperity through the economic opportunities associated with becoming a more space fairing economy. VS