Methane Emissions: Report Exposes Blue Origin's Rockets As Significant Polluters
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin rockets are causing a lot of pollution. In fact, a recent Bloomberg report claims that the rockets are emitting enough methane to be spotted from outer space. The methane signatures were recently detected by a nonprofit organisation that estimated over 1.5 metric tons of methane originating from the facilities per hour.
The nonprofit, Carbon Mapper, utilised instruments on the International Space Station (ISS) to verify these findings. An unprecedented amount of methane is being released from the Blue Origin facility known as Launch Site One that serves as the main base for the company's space operations.
Blue Origin's pollution-causing rockets
On the Carbon Mapper website, a map showing large dark clouds of pollution over the facility in the West Texas region of United States, may be seen. Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin lets people buy tickets to be launched into space for a cost of somewhere between $250,000 to $500,000. This gives them a 15-minute ride to the edge of space and back. ?
It seems that Blue Origin's flagship rocket needs a lot of methane to make propulsion possible. Even then, the recent figures found by Carbon Mapper put the pollution at a higher level than previously thought.
Also read:?NASA Instrument Detects 50 'Super-Emitters' Of Methane From Space
In a statement, a Blue Origin spokesperson told Bloomberg that this was standard procedure. Blue Origin's methane emissions have been kept under wraps, but the company claims that it will emit 60 tons of methane in the calendar year, according to an air permit.
However, based on the estimates of Carbon Mapper, it would take the company less than two days to reach this goal.?
Also read:?Satellites Capable Of Detecting Methane Emissions Will Hold Polluters Accountable
Methane is a harmful greenhouse house considered responsible for a quarter of all global warming. Countries around the world are working on ways to limit its release into the environment.
What do you think about Blue Origin's pollution? Let us know in the comments below.?For more in the world of?technology?and?science, keep reading?Indiatimes.com.
