This research represents an important step in studying the impact of space debris on the atmosphere of our planet.
For the first time in history, scientists observed a cloud of air pollutants formed as a result of the burning of the upper stage of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket in the sky over Europe. This measurement will help understand the complex chemical reactions caused by air pollution from space debris entering Earth's atmosphere. Such pollution can have devastating consequences for the atmosphere and climate of our planet. The study was published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, reports Focus citing Space.
On February 19, 2025, the upper stage of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket entered Earth's atmosphere, exploded, and created an impressive fireball, then broke apart, creating a spectacular light show in the sky over Europe. Scientists took the opportunity to study, almost in real-time, the atmospheric pollution caused by the destruction of space debris.
For the first time, scientists were able to study a cloud of pollutants at high altitudes in the atmosphere. Researchers wanted to determine the level of air pollution from the breakup of the space rocket at altitudes between 50 and 100 km.
To do this, scientists used LIDAR technology, which measures atmospheric pollution by creating numerous laser pulses and observing which of them are reflected off pollutants.
As a result, on February 20, 2025, scientists detected a cloud of lithium that formed in the atmosphere after the rocket's breakup. Calculations showed that these pollutants were indeed associated with the breakup of space debris.
Scientists found a sudden spike in lithium concentration in an area located nearly 100 kilometers above the Earth's surface. In this polluted cloud, the concentration of lithium was 10 times higher than the norm for that part of the atmosphere.
For the first time, this study demonstrates the possibility of studying air pollution from rockets entering the atmosphere at such altitudes before it disperses, the scientists stated.
However, the consequences of this lithium rocket pollution remain unknown. Scientists believe that such pollutants could affect Earth's climate, particularly by increasing global warming and depleting the ozone layer that protects us from harmful ultraviolet radiation. This research represents an important step in studying the impact of space debris on the atmosphere of our planet, the authors of the study say.
In recent years, more and more space debris has been falling into Earth's atmosphere, raising significant concerns among scientists. The European Space Agency has estimated that more than three pieces of space debris, including non-functional satellites and spent rocket stages, as well as their fragments, fall into the atmosphere every day.
Each year, hundreds of tons of space debris burn up in the atmosphere, releasing chemicals that are naturally absent in it. This can potentially damage the protective ozone layer and disrupt the thermal balance of our planet.
