Recently, what has felt like a distant dream of having accessible space travel has become tangible through innovative technology, specifically the transformation of spacecraft through what is known as reusable spacecraft. Once considered complex, the ability to reuse spacecraft, including launch systems and rocket stages, has transformed missions into space. With the ability to go to space being easier through commercial space travel and the need for more research in space due to questions posed about the climate crisis, the number of rockets needed has increased, along with the waste that comes with it on Earth and in space. Emissions from launches, repetitive creation of material-rich parts, and orbital pollution have brought sustainability to the forefront of aerospace research. For this reason, successfully resuing these heavy and material-rich parts while ensuring components are up to manufacturing standards for launch is quite interesting, as reusable rockets offer the potential for less environmental impact and footprint.
The Space Shuttle was the pioneer of this sustainable movement. Starting in 1981, the fleet flew 135 missions, orbiting like a spaceship while landing like an airplane. The orbiter resembled an airplane and was launched into the atmosphere; the external tank was for fuel, and the solid rocket boosters were for power. The orbiter would return to Earth, landing like an airplane, and be used for future missions. This primary vehicle could successfully re-transport astronauts and material to space using boosters and resolve the problem. They would fall back to earth and be refurbished for future flights. Reusing rocket parts, in this case over 100 times, helps conserve resources for each launch, reducing the environmental footprint by not exploiting raw materials and minimizing waste material left in Earth’s orbit and oceans. This model of reusable launch vehicles has created a standard for recovering parts from re-flying them, specifically for transferring payloads from to space instead of wasting experience technology and contributing to pollution on earth and in our galaxies.
Following the accomplishments of the Space Shuttle, private aerospace companies have paved the way for further reusing expensive technology, limiting greenhouse gas emissions and pollution produced by launches and landings. SpaceX, a pioneer in modern space travel, has achieved many successful reuses of the Falcon 9, a partially reusable spacecraft. From 2015, when SpaceX successfully landed a first stage and recovered the booster, to now, when the company rapidly reuses launch vehicles, up to a few hours after, SpaceX has expanded on the technology of the Space Shuttle to create the future fully resolve Starship. Despite being early in the process, reusable launch vehicles have been recorded to reduce the amount of orbital debris, space junk burning our atmosphere, and orbiting around the earth. Blue Origin is another company whose work on reusable rockets is transforming the environmental impacts of space travel. Mirroring the job done on the Falcon 9, Blue Origin’s New Shepard is an entirely reusable “sub-orbital launch vehicle.” The spacecraft has been deemed fully reusable through its full landing, which has been done successfully 26 times. Similarly, Blue Origin’s new spacecraft, New Glenn, has taken on a similar approach to the Space Shuttle, moving like a commercial aircraft. Both technologies cut costs, but more importantly, they use cleaner fuel and reduce environmental strain.
While innovative reuse will reduce environmental impact, all technologies have downsides. In this case, when rocket stages, engines, and boosters are returned to Earth, they must be refurbished, which takes time and money. The cost of recovery and the process of renovating parts to a standard contrast with the technology’s environmental benefits. Additionally, as of today, reusable rocket pieces have a lower amount of material they can carry due to the larger mass that comes with them to start, which makes them not able to support some missions.
In conclusion, space exploration technology is currently at the point where reusable spacecraft is a possible accommodation. The ability to reuse materials allows the shift towards a more sustainable future of space travel, whether for research, exploration, or private space travel. The Space Shuttle helped pave the way for the modern movement of aerospace renewability, leading private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin to conserve resources and protect the environment in modern-day launches. Still, the movement to lower the footprint of space exploration needs improvement due to the cost, duration of recovery, and mass limitations. Looking forward, the future of space travel is promising, knowing that innovative processes have been created to make space travel environmentally responsible.
In Orbit 