Human activity in space causes multiple harmful impacts and may now be playing an increasing role in contributing to global environmental change – possibly in ways that we do not yet fully understand.

The new study from Space Watch UK concludes that rapid growth in the space sector is beginning to degrade and damage several important global commons – the atmosphere, certain Earth orbits, the night sky, and the oceans.  For decades the small numbers of annual rocket launches into space meant that the industry’s impacts were thought to be limited and local, but as the number of launches grows this is no longer the case.

As a three-month window opens on 1st July 2026 for the first space launch from UK soil at SaxaVord Spaceport, the new 80-page report ‘Waste of Space: The Environmental Cost of Human Activities in Space’ documents the environmental harm from growing activity in space. 

Rocket launches for both military and civil purposes have rapidly increased in number over recent years as costs have fallen.  This is driving a new ‘race for space’ with commercial and government sectors keen to capitalise on the economic and strategic advantages offered by the exploitation of space. 

At the same time, the space sector is undergoing rapid transformation as it moves from being government-led to being funded by super-rich entrepreneurs and private companies

The new study from Space Watch UK concludes that rapid growth in the space sector is beginning to degrade and damage several important global commons – the atmosphere, certain Earth orbits, the night sky, and the oceans.  For decades the small numbers of annual rocket launches into space meant that the industry’s impacts were thought to be limited and local, but as the number of launches grows this is no longer the case.

As a three-month window opens on 1st July 2026 for the first space launch from UK soil at SaxaVord Spaceport, the new 80-page report ‘Waste of Space: The Environmental Cost of Human Activities in Space’ documents the environmental harm from growing activity in space. 

Rocket launches for both military and civil purposes have rapidly increased in number over recent years as costs have fallen.  This is driving a new ‘race for space’ with commercial and government sectors keen to capitalise on the economic and strategic advantages offered by the exploitation of space. At the same time, the space sector is undergoing rapid transformation as it moves from being government-led to being funded by super-rich entrepreneurs and private companies.

International scientists at the 2026 European Geosciences Union conference held May 3-8 in Vienna, Austria, recently raised concerns about the growing atmospheric impacts of spacecraft launches and re-entries.  The scientists have urgently called for more research to address uncertainties about how the atmosphere responds to chemicals introduced as a result of space industry activities, and policy changes to promote environmental sustainability for space.

The ‘Waste of Space’ reportfrom Space Watch UK identifies in detail a number of environmental impacts caused by the space industry including: 

• Atmospheric impact: Space rockets release gases and particles directly into the atmosphere and are the only anthropogenic source of pollution in the middle and upper atmosphere.  Pollutants including black carbon (soot) from kerosene rocket fuels, and alumina particles (aluminium oxide) and gaseous chlorine and hydrochloric acid from solid fuels have impacts on the atmosphere, with possible global implications.  Metal residues created as space junk enters the atmosphere and burns up have the potential to catalyse the destruction of atmospheric ozone.

• Space debris poses a catastrophic collision hazard to functional satellites. As the debris population grows more collisions can be expected to occur, with risks increasing geometrically. This may give rise to a self-sustaining chain of collisions known as the ‘Kessler syndrome’, threatening the use of certain orbits.

• Dark and quiet skies: Light pollution of the night sky has the potential to erode and damage human cultural heritage and may also have unforeseen effects on wildlife and human health. Large satellite constellations can generate light trails and radio signals which interfere with astronomical observations.

Other impacts reviewed in the study include threats to the magnetosphere, harm to marine ecosystems from debris discarded during launches, and damage to the local environment at launch sites.

Renowned environmental campaigner Jonathan Porritt said of the new report:

The report’s author, Peter Burt of Space Watch UK said:

“Far from enabling us to boldly go where no human has gone before, the rapidly growing space sector is piling further pressure onto the fragile planet that is our home.

“The space industry is controlled by billionaires and the military who feel they don't have to follow the same rules as the rest of us and can't be bothered to tidy up the mess they make.  As a result, pollution of the atmosphere with ozone-destroying and climate changing chemicals from the space industry is now beginning to pose a significant threat to the global atmosphere, while space junk could permanently put certain orbits beyond human use for good.

“The ‘Waste of Space’ study aims to start a debate about how humans are treating the space environment and mobilise scientists, communities, and science writers to take action at a critical point in time. It is still not too late to prevent irreparable harm from being done to global commons such as the atmosphere, the night sky, and access to satellite orbits, but we must act quickly.  If we do not, no-one will come to our rescue and we will not be able to escape to another world.