1.2.15 Launcher Emission and Space Environment (References: 76/2,76/3,77/11,77/18,77/19,78/11,78/23, 78/40,79/2.) 1.2.15.1 General This category implies all impacts of the launchers and OTV’s on the environment and all potential impacts of the natural and artifical space environment on the SPS-workers and the satellite itself. 1.2.15.2 Launcher Noise There are relatively little data available on the noise during the booster phase of HLLV’s. A little more data or models exist on the sonic boom during reentry. But without any data it becomes obvious, that with a 10-20 fold launch rate compared to the planned shuttle missions, the noise pollution will become a serious problem. The currently considered 2-stage winged HLLV requires land based launch and recovery sites. So very large buffer zones around these areas will be required (compare to 1.2.12.2). 1.2.15.3 Launcher Air Pollution and Debris The potential atmospheric effects of SPS launches on climate, ozone layer, and the Van Allen Belt is currently under examination. Studies to date have already pointed out, that under certain trajectories, with fuels, serious impacts to the F region of the ionosphere could occur. Based upon these data, new trajectories for launches have been proposed. Because vertical mixing in the stratosphere is very slow - about 2 years at 20 km and 4 to 20 years at 50 km altitude - gases injected into it will accumulate even at a low annual rate of injection and could yield a large equilibrium value at very high altitudes. It is expected in literature, that the maximum SPS launch activity would not be a significant contributor to the total combustion products blown into the lower atmosphere by our present economy. As an example, it is calculated, that carbon dioxide and water vapor generated by the launches of one SPS would be produced by fossil-fired powerplants of equal capacity to the SPS in about 7 months of operation. Run-off effects of unburnt propellants and the potential formation of ground clouds have not been examined very intensively. But literature expects minor problems for the quality of life compared with other pollution sources. Cargo orbital transfer vehicles (COTV's) may exhaust large amounts of fuel, which could have significant impacts on the outer layers of the atmosphere. With an increased rate of launches there is inevitably an increased rate of failure and an increased rate of ejected launcher parts. With conventional precautions of siting of launch-trajectories over sea or desert land there should be little additional environmental problems caused by these effects. Debris or ejected parts of launchers, which remain in orbit, could cause some problems for the construction of the SPS’s, if the construction location is sited in LEO.
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