00:03space launches are increasing and the rockets are getting bigger but when things don't go to plan
00:10the environmental cost can be massive in recent years orbital launches have nearly tripled from
00:18around 114 in 2020 to over 300 in 2025 companies like spacex are launching more frequently than
00:28ever deploying thousands of satellites rockets are scaling up starship the most powerful ever built
00:35stands taller than the statue of liberty this new space race promises internet for all
00:41scientific breakthroughs and future mars missions but success isn't guaranteed
00:50take spacex's first starship test flight in april 2023 the rocket lifted off
00:58but exploded minutes later destroying the launch pad and scattering debris over a wide area in texas
01:05it's hard to watch these huge explosions failures scatter metal chemicals and concrete dust
01:12in the past soviet era launches at baikonur in kazakhstan left vast areas of step contaminated
01:20with toxic rocket fuel carcinogenic residues that poison soil and water for decades
01:31even successful launches inject black carbon soot nitrogen oxides and water vapor directly into the
01:38stratosphere where it lingers and can damage the ozone layer studies warn that continued growth plus
01:45re-intering debris could slow ozone recovery from the montreal protocol black carbon from rockets has a
01:53disproportionately high warming effect failures amplify local damage fires air and water pollution habitat
02:02disruption near sensitive sites like wildlife refugees in florida or biodiverse areas in french guiana
02:10space debris falling back to earth adds more pollution as it burns up
02:20environmental groups call for more testing and safeguards before launching near protected areas
02:25space agencies and companies are improving better paths reusability reduces waste but with launches
02:32set to keep rising regulation and monitoring are crucial the question is can the benefits of space
02:39space outweigh the growing cost to our planet as humanity reaches for the star we must protect the one planet
02:46we call home
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