Rocketing Up!

I seem to have been posting for ages, about the environmental damage that will inevitably flow from 'space tourism'. Eloise Marais (University College of London) studies emissions associated with all sorts of flights. She maintains that emissions from rockets are currently only a fraction of those produced by air travel (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jul/19/billionaires-space-tourism-environment-emissions). A single rocket can, however, produce 300 tons of carbon dioxide, mostly delivered into the upper atmosphere, where it can remain for years. Marais notes that although rocket emissions are 'small beer', compared to those from aircraft, they are currently increasing at 5.6% per year. And,'space tourism' has hardly taken off just yet. When it does, it will be 'a giant leap' for atmospheric pollution! Both rocket use (they have many functions, including the placement of satellites in orbit etc) and air travel need to be urgently restricted. Otherwise, climate change will continue unabated. We are currently allowing rich folk to determine the fate of the planet (I'm expecting spyware on my mobile)!