Researchers have for the first time detected pollution from space debris in Earth's upper atmosphere, according to a report from the Leibniz Institute for Atmospheric Physics. The discovery came after a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket burned up over Western Europe in February last year, creating a glowing light streak initially mistaken for a meteor.
Atmospheric physicist Robin Wing and colleagues at the Leibniz Institute had just installed a new laser system called lidar, designed to measure lithium from satellites in the atmosphere. When the rocket debris event occurred, they were able to direct their laser beams skyward the following night to investigate potential rocket residue.
The scientists discovered a tenfold increase in lithium in the atmosphere that could be traced back to the Falcon 9 rocket. The findings were published in Nature Communications Earth & Environment. According to the researchers, this marks the first time pollution from space debris has been detected in the upper atmosphere.
Robin Wing described the moment as "very exciting when we realized we had succeeded in measuring this for the first time." The researchers now plan to measure other metals, particularly aluminum which is common in rockets. Linda Megner, a researcher at Stockholm University's Meteorological Institute, expressed concern that aluminum could potentially affect the ozone layer if transported to polar stratospheric clouds.
The Leibniz Institute is developing a new, more advanced measurement system to be used at a station in Norway to investigate how the Arctic is affected by space emissions. Atmospheric physicist Gerd Baumgarten expressed optimism about the research progress, noting that just five years ago such research was considered impossible.