Rocket debris thrown into Space

[happyhacker]

When a rocket engine exhausts into Space what happens to the particles or molecules that are thrown out?

My interest is firstly where do they go e.g.: orbit the Earth or other planetary body if from a shuttle, orbit the Sun if ejected outside the capturing influence of a planetary body, or just head off on their initial trajectory into the interplanetary void. Secondly, being presumably considered pollution (unless the particles are joining naturally occurring particles in that medium they end up in e.g. hydrogen), are we creating a long term problem like Space junk orbiting Earth but 'clouds' of stuff out there. My definition of 'Space' here I assume to be cislunar and beyond (e.g. when we head off to Mars). I suppose if this question was looked at another way: are we leaving permanent traces of our activity in Space due to current and proposed rocket technology (although I guess Voyager 1 will only be giving off particles of its structure as it travels).

Many thanks.

 

[trurle]

Gaseous products are rapidly expelled from vicinity of Earth by solar radiation pressure and solar wind on timescale of days and is not considered a pollution; the aluminum oxide powder from solid-fuel rocket exhaust have residence time measured in months to years and can be potentially a problem, causing solar panels coverglass erosion or such. These orbiting dust streams are rare though - only few interplanetary probes had flight profiles allowing large weights of powdered solids to enter orbit of Earth.

 

[NatSusan]

It depends on the type of rocket engine and the speed at which the particles are ejected. In general, the particles will disperse and eventually become part of the interplanetary medium. If the particles are ejected at a high enough velocity, they can escape the gravitational pull of the planet or spacecraft and enter a solar orbit. This is often the case with spacecraft that are traveling to other planets or beyond.

If the particles are ejected at a lower velocity, they may remain in orbit around the planet or spacecraft, becoming part of the ever-growing cloud of space debris. This can be a problem for spacecraft in low Earth orbit, as they can potentially collide with this debris and cause damage.

Some rocket engines, such as ion thrusters, use charged particles instead of gases, which can be directed and controlled more precisely. These particles can also be used for propulsion, but they have a lower risk of contributing to space debris.

In terms of pollution, rocket exhaust does contribute to the buildup of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere, but the amount is relatively small compared to other sources such as transportation and industry. In space, the particles from rocket exhaust will eventually disperse and become part of the natural environment, but it is important for space agencies to monitor and regulate the emissions to minimize any potential impact on the environment.

Overall, while there may be some long-term effects of rocket exhaust on the space environment, it is not considered a major concern at this time. As our technology and understanding of space travel advances, it will be important to continue studying and mitigating any potential impacts on the environment.