Elon Musk’s rocket emitted 358 tonnes of CO2 in a six-minute flight

• Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship SN15 released 358 tonnes of CO2
• This is the same amount that 4.6 million people in the UK released in the same time period
• The Starship has to be combined with a Super Heavy booster to escape the Earth’s atmosphere, for flights into space

Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship SN15 released 358 tonnes of CO2 during its first complete high-altitude flight on 5 May 2021.

This is the same amount that 4.6 million people in the UK released in the same time period, according to data from Everyday Astronaut and the Office for National Statistics.

The damage done by such a short test flight raises environmental concerns about the rocket NASA has chosen to land on the Moon this decade – especially as this was just a prototype.

The final SpaceX Starship design will impact the environment more

SpaceX’s SN15 prototype of the Starship uses three Raptor engines, compared to the six engines which the final version of the rocket will use.

But that’s not all: the Starship has to be combined with a Super Heavy booster to escape the Earth’s atmosphere, for flights into space – and eventually, to the Moon.

This booster was made up of around 30 engines – 10 times the number that propelled the SN15’s test flight on 5 May 2021.

A Starship flight with the Super Heavy booster emitted 2,683 tonnes of CO2, plus 1.7 tonnes of nitrous oxide.

This greenhouse gas is 298 times more harmful than CO2, which means that over one flight, the rocket will release 3,189.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

How does SpaceX’s rocket compare?

The 1969 Apollo 11 mission that landed humans on the Moon for the first time took eight days overall, so let’s assume the Starship will take the same amount of time for its mission.

We’ve compared that eight-day trip with various sources of emissions over an eight-day period in the UK, as well as Boeing 737 flights, to show exactly how badly the Starship is set to impact the climate.

Summary

• Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship SN15 released 358 tonnes of CO2 during its first complete high-altitude flight on 5 May 2021
• The damage done by such a short test flight raises environmental concerns about the rocket NASA has chosen to land on the Moon this decade
• SpaceX’s SN15 prototype of the Starship uses three Raptor engines (seen above), compared to the six engines which the final version of the rocket will use
• A Starship flight with the Super Heavy booster emitted 2,683 tonnes of CO2, plus 1.7 tonnes of nitrous oxide

Written by

Josh Jackman Lead Writer

Josh has written about and reported on eco-friendly home improvements and climate change for the past four years.

His data-driven work has featured on the front page of the Financial Times and in publications including The Independent, Telegraph, Times, Sun, Daily Express, and Fox News, earned him the position of resident expert in BT's smart home tech initiative, and been referenced in official United Nations and World Health Organisation documents.

He’s also been interviewed on BBC One's Rip-Off Britain, BBC Radio 4, and BBC Radio 5 Live as an expert on everything from renewable energy to government policy and space travel's carbon footprint, and regularly attends Grand Designs Live as a Green Living Expert, giving bespoke advice to members of the public about heat pumps and solar panels.

Josh has also used the journalistic skills he developed at The Jewish Chronicle and PinkNews to investigate and analyse every green government grant in existence, and examine the impact on the climate of cryptocurrency, Glastonbury Festival, and the World Cup.

You can get in touch with Josh via email.

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Reviewed By

Tamara Birch Senior Writer

Tamara is a London-based journalist and has written about environmental topics for more than four years. This includes advising small business owners on cost-effective ways, like solar panels and energy-efficient products, to help them become more sustainable.

She has used her journalist and research skills to become highly knowledgeable on sustainable initiatives, issues, and solutions to help consumers do their bit for the environment - all while reducing monthly costs.

In addition to adopting sustainable practices in her personal life, Tamara has worked in the retail B2B space to help independent retailers think about their environmental choices and how they can help improve their business. She now uses this knowledge to help consumers do the same.

Her passion for sustainability and eco-friendly solutions stems from a long obsession with nature and animals and ensuring they feel looked after. In her free time, Tamara enjoys reading fantasy novels, visiting the gym, and going on long walks in new areas.

You can get in touch with Tamara via email at tamara.birch@mvfglobal.com.

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