The rapid development of spaceflight has significantly advanced science and technology, but it also poses non-negligible environmental challenges. This study focuses on major emissions from rocket launches, including CO2, black carbon (BC), H2O, Al2O3, and chlorine species (Cly). To assess the atmospheric influence of space activities, their horizontal and vertical spatial distributions are examined using worldwide launch data from 2020 to 2024. The results indicate that gaseous emissions are dominated by CO2 and H2O, with total quantities of approximately 2.71×108 kg and 1.44×108 kg, respectively. In contrast, particulate emissions consist mainly of BC and Al2O3, with estimated releases of 6.70×106 kg and 7.80×106 kg, respectively. Horizontally, the emissions exhibit strong regional concentration, with the United States and China accounting for the majority of CO2, H2O, and BC emissions. Al2O3 and Cly emissions are mainly concentrated in China, France, the United States, and India. Vertically, CO2 emissions are concentrated in the troposphere, while BC emissions peak in the stratosphere and mesosphere. Due to the persistence of BC in the upper atmosphere, a near twofold increase in net radiative forcing can be observed in these regions. This suggests that because of their high-altitude BC emissions, space launch operations are more dangerous to the climate than aircraft and conventional industrial sources that are limited to the troposphere.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |