Ethan Clarke
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue on Earth, with synthetic plastic waste pervasive throughout the Earth's biosphere, including in marine and land environments far from human populations. The International Space Station (ISS) has been identified as a potential tool to address plastic pollution, through the development of advanced sensors for the detection and monitoring of plastic debris in the ocean, as well as the testing of microgravity's impact on the production of biodegradable polymers. While plastic has been discovered in space, it is not pollution from Earth. The Cassini spacecraft discovered propylene, a chemical used to make plastic, in the lower atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan. Launching plastic waste into space has been considered as a potential solution to Earth's plastic pollution problem, but it is costly and unethical, with estimates ranging from £20,000 to £40,000 per kilogram to launch material into near-Earth orbit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic in space | Naturally occurring plastics like animal horns and tortoise shells have been discovered in space. |
| Plastic as space waste | Plastic waste in space is considered unethical and costly. Launching plastic waste into space would cost at least £6,000 trillion yearly. |
| Plastic waste monitoring | The International Space Station (ISS) can be used to monitor and clean up plastic waste. Advanced sensors can be used to detect plastic debris in oceans and coastal cities. |
| Plastic recycling in space | NASA's Refabricator is a machine that can recycle plastics in space and use them for 3D printing. |
| Plastic waste as space junk | Plastic waste in space can become space junk, which can cause collisions and damage satellites and other space technology. |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic pollution solutions from space
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that has attracted widespread public interest. Synthetic plastic waste, including macro and microplastics, is pervasive throughout the Earth's biosphere, including in land and marine environments far from human populations. The negative impacts of this plastic assault on human health and the environment have provided powerful motivation to seek out new solutions.
The International Space Station (ISS) has been identified as a potential contributor to addressing plastic pollution. The ISS provides a unique platform for research and observation of the Earth, with access to a persistent microgravity environment. This microgravity environment can be leveraged to advance the development of biodegradable polymers.
One proposed solution is the development of advanced sensors for the detection and monitoring of plastic debris in the ocean. These sensors could accurately detect near-surface or beneath-surface waterborne plastic debris from space, benefiting plastic pollution prevention and cleanup efforts in the open ocean and coastal waterways. While no current space-based sensor has demonstrated this capability, the DLR Earth Sensing Imaging Spectrometer (DESIS) and sensors on other satellites may have the potential to do so.
Additionally, the ISS may be used to test whether microgravity can provide new insights into cost-effective production of biodegradable biopolymers. Prior investigations have shown that bacterial and fungal responses to reduced gravity alter gene expression and physiological responses. This suggests that desirable metabolites, such as bioplastic precursors, could be synthesized in microgravity, accelerating ongoing Earth-based work to scale up biodegradable biopolymer production.
It is important to note that launching plastic waste into space to reduce pollution on Earth is not a feasible solution. It would be extremely costly, with estimates ranging from £20,000 to £40,000 per kilogram for near-Earth orbit. It would also raise ethical concerns, as Article IX of the UN Outer Space Treaty obligates nations to avoid the harmful contamination of space.
Instead, the focus should be on finding sustainable solutions, such as the Refabricator machine developed by NASA. This machine combines 3D printing and recycling, accepting plastic materials of various sizes and shapes and turning them into feedstock for 3D printing. By recycling and reusing waste materials, the Refabricator demonstrates a sustainable logistics model that can be key for future space missions and also has potential applications on Earth.
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Plastic waste in space is costly
Plastic waste in space is a costly affair, both in terms of the economic and environmental costs. The economic costs are massive, with estimates ranging from £20,000 to £40,000 per kilogram to launch material into near-Earth orbit. This means that sending the 300 million tonnes of plastic waste produced globally each year into space would cost at least £6,000 trillion annually. This is an incredibly inefficient use of resources, as the same amount of plastic waste could be recycled for a fraction of the cost.
The environmental costs are also significant. Sending plastic waste into space would further contribute to the growing problem of space junk. According to the European Space Agency, there are around 36,500 space debris objects greater than 10 centimeters in size, with another million between 1 and 10 centimeters, and over 130 million pieces between a millimeter and a centimeter in size. This debris travels at extremely high speeds, around 17,000 miles per hour, and even a small piece can cause significant damage if it collides with an operational satellite or spacecraft. The risk of collisions increases as more objects are put into orbit, which threatens the services that rely on satellites, such as weather forecasting, GPS, and global telecommunications.
The issue of plastic waste in space is also an ethical one. Article IX of the UN Outer Space Treaty obligates nations to avoid the harmful contamination of space, which means that any proposal to launch plastic waste into orbit would require international agreement, which would be challenging to obtain.
Instead of viewing space as a potential dumping ground for plastic waste, it is more beneficial to explore how space technology can contribute to addressing the plastic pollution problem on Earth. The International Space Station (ISS) has hosted workshops to discuss how its unique capabilities can be leveraged to address plastic pollution. This includes the development of advanced sensors for detecting and monitoring plastic debris in the ocean and the potential use of microgravity conditions to gain new insights into the production of biodegradable biopolymers.
Furthermore, space-based recycling technologies, such as NASA's Refabricator machine, demonstrate the potential for sustainable waste management and manufacturing in space. The Refabricator is a recycler and 3D printer in one unit, capable of accepting plastic materials of various sizes and shapes and turning them into feedstock for printing new items. This technology has the potential to reduce waste and increase sustainability in space exploration, as well as providing valuable insights that can be applied to waste management and recycling technologies on Earth.
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Plastic on other planets
Plastic has been discovered on other planets and is not a result of pollution from Earth. Using its onboard spectrometer, the Cassini spacecraft discovered propylene in the lower atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan. Propylene, also known as propene or methylethylene, is a chemical used to make polypropylene, a type of plastic commonly found in grocery store plastic containers. This discovery marks the first definitive discovery of plastics outside of Earth.
While plastic has a negative connotation and is often associated with unnaturalness, it is essential to note that plastic is made up of organic molecules containing carbon. Additionally, there are naturally occurring polymers like cellulose, rubber, amber, and shellac.
The discovery of plastic on Titan does not indicate the presence of intelligent life synthesizing plastics. Instead, it aligns with previous knowledge about Titan's atmosphere, which is known to be a complex mixture of hydrocarbons. The presence of propylene was expected since similar chemicals were already known to exist in Titan's atmosphere.
Launching plastic waste into space to reduce pollution on Earth has been considered, but it is extremely costly and unethical. It would cost at least £6,000 trillion per year to transport the 300 million tonnes of plastic waste produced globally into space. Additionally, Article IX of the UN Outer Space Treaty obligates nations to avoid the harmful contamination of space, requiring international agreements for any such endeavour.
Plastic pollution is a significant issue, with millions of tons of plastic polluting oceans and posing an even greater threat to land-based ecosystems. Plastic can break down into microplastics and release harmful chemicals, impacting the soil, water, and the health of various species, including humans. The long-term effects of plastic pollution, particularly on gene expression and biochemical reactions, require further research.
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Plastic recycling in space
Recycling trash is one way to address this issue, as it can transform waste into valuable resources for the mission while reducing its volume. Astronauts can process small pieces of trash in a high-temperature reactor, which breaks down the waste into water, oxygen, and other gases that can be used or vented as needed. This recycling process also reduces the biological hazards associated with trash.
To further enhance recycling in space, NASA has launched the Recycling in Space Challenge, inviting the public to submit proposals for components that can store and transfer trash to a thermal processing unit. Additionally, NASA is working with NineSigma and its NASA@WORK team to crowdsource ideas and increase innovation in waste management. These initiatives aim to develop efficient waste receptacle designs and trash compaction and processing systems.
One notable technology in this domain is the Refabricator, a combination 3D printer and recycler. It can recycle waste plastic and previously 3D printed parts into high-quality 3D printer filament, which can then be used to create new tools and materials. This technology not only reduces waste but also eliminates the need for fresh printing material, saving significant costs and space during space missions. The Refabricator has been aboard the ISS since 2020, and astronauts have been testing the bonding properties of the recycled material.
In conclusion, plastic recycling in space is a critical aspect of sustainable long-duration space travel. By developing innovative recycling technologies, such as the Refabricator, NASA is striving to reduce waste, create valuable resources, and optimize the efficiency of space missions. These efforts will be instrumental in supporting future exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.
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Space debris and plastic
Space debris, also known as space junk, space pollution, space waste, space trash, space garbage, or cosmic debris, refers to defunct human-made objects in space that no longer serve a useful function. This includes derelict spacecraft, mission-related debris, and fragmentation debris from the breakup of rocket bodies and spacecraft. Space debris has been accumulating in Earth's orbit since the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957. Since then, various incidents, such as anti-satellite weapon testing and rocket stage explosions, have contributed to the growing amount of space debris.
The presence of space debris poses a significant threat to functioning spacecraft and the International Space Station (ISS). Even small pieces of debris, such as paint flecks and solid rocket exhaust particles, can cause extensive damage when traveling at high velocities. The ISS, for example, has had to move its orbit to avoid collisions with space debris and has been hit by pieces the size of paint chips, requiring repairs for weeks.
Plastic in space has been a topic of discussion, with some suggesting launching plastic waste into space to reduce pollution on Earth. However, this idea is considered extremely costly and unethical. The UN Outer Space Treaty obligates nations to avoid the harmful contamination of space, and the financial cost of launching plastic waste into orbit is significantly higher than recycling the same amount of material.
While plastic in space may evoke images of human-made pollution, it is important to note that plastic has been discovered in space independently of human activity. In 2013, the Cassini spacecraft found propylene, a chemical used to create plastic, in the lower atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan. This discovery marked the first definitive identification of plastics outside of Earth and indicated the presence of a "`chemical zoo` of hydrocarbons in Titan's atmosphere.
In summary, space debris, including plastic pieces, poses a significant threat to functioning spacecraft and the ISS. While the idea of launching plastic waste into space to reduce pollution on Earth has been proposed, it is not a viable solution due to ethical and financial constraints. Naturally occurring plastics, such as the propylene discovered on Titan, remind us that not all space plastics are human-made pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, plastic has been discovered in space. The Curiosity rover discovered plastic on Mars, and the Cassini spacecraft discovered propylene, a type of plastic, in the lower atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan.
Launching plastic waste into space is possible but extremely costly and unethical. It would cost at least £6,000 trillion per year to launch the 300 million tonnes of plastic waste produced globally each year into space. Additionally, Article IX of the UN Outer Space Treaty obligates nations to avoid the harmful contamination of space.
The International Space Station (ISS) can assist in monitoring and cleaning up plastic debris on Earth. It can also be used to test whether microgravity can provide insights into the cost-effective production of biodegradable polymers. Additionally, NASA is developing a machine called the "Refabricator" that can recycle plastic waste in space and use it for 3D printing.
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