According to researchers at University College London, the rapidly growing space industry is leaving an unexpected mark on our planet—in the upper atmosphere. Rocket launches produce soot and other particulates that accumulate in Earth's stratosphere, and as commercial spaceflight accelerates, the problem is set to worsen significantly. The researchers warn that while individual launches have a small impact, the compounding effect of thousands of additional flights planned in the coming years—from SpaceX's Starlink constellation expansion to other emerging launch providers—could create measurable disruption to the upper atmosphere. This finding highlights a blind spot in the space economy: the environmental cost of reaching orbit. It's a reminder that as we expand human ambition skyward, we need to account for the atmospheric consequences of our ascent.

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