Protecting French Guiana’s environment is a constant concern
Increasing numbers of motor vehicles around the world emit large amounts of greenhouse gases that are contributing to air pollution and global warming.
Society is now waking up to this fact, spurring manufacturers to build ever-cleaner vehicles.
But what about the environmental impacts of spacecraft?
Society is now waking up to this fact, spurring manufacturers to build ever-cleaner vehicles.
But what about the environmental impacts of spacecraft?
Launch vehicle propulsion systems eject large amounts of gas at very high speed.
Ariane 5 G launch in February 2005 ; credits CNES/ESA/Arianespace
The main stage of Europe’s Ariane 5 launcher burns a mixture of liquid hydrogen and oxygen, leaving just water as a by-product. On the other hand, its 2 huge boosters burn solid propellants, releasing aluminium oxide and hydrochloric acid into the atmosphere.
Although such emissions are intermittent and only affect a small area, CNES nevertheless pursues a pro-active approach to monitoring and protecting the environment.
At the Ariane 5 launch base at the Guiana Space Centre (CSG), every effort is made to contain high-risk, harmful products by keeping constant track of transport, storage and discharges.
At the Ariane 5 launch base at the Guiana Space Centre (CSG), every effort is made to contain high-risk, harmful products by keeping constant track of transport, storage and discharges.
Ibis flower ; credits CNES/Ch.Bardou
This achievement confirms the agency’s commitment to controlling the impacts of its activities on French Guiana’s environment, which supports one of the richest varieties of wildlife and plantlife in the world.
