• Reality Suit@lemmy.one
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    1 year ago

    Ah, methane. That’s the safe greenhouse gas. Why so many launches? What is being left in space?

    • robbak@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Once burnt, yes, safe greenhouse gas. At least, no worse than any other combustion products. I mean, it would be nice if hydrogen wasn’t such a pain, but we have to work with the universe we are given.

      Methane leaks need to be contained to the amount practical, but they are doing that.

    • MartianSands@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      If by “left in space” you mean the payload, then mostly Starlink satellites. A considerable number of other people’s satellites as well. Those stick around until the end of their service life, then they re-enter the atmosphere and burn up.

      If you’re asking if any part of the rocket gets left up there, then the answer is no

      • eskimofry@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        There was a recent lemmy post and discussion where “burn up” wasn’t making stuff magically disappear out of our atmosphere.

        • intensely_human@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          Right. It’s more like the molecules come apart from one another but still exist. Kinda like when bread turns into toast in the toaster: matter transforming as energy flows though it.

      • Reality Suit@lemmy.one
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        1 year ago

        Nah, I’m asking about why so many trips, and what is being left. You won’t find a list of it anywhere.