Value chain · CLM-0834
In plain terms
The authors say their model does not count the soot and aluminium oxide that rockets release into the upper atmosphere, because the science on how much these matter at different altitudes is still too uncertain, and the results table duly shows exactly zero for that category everywhere despite the study listing a method for it.
The claim as recorded
SRC-016 states that "the environmental impacts of black carbon and aluminium oxide from rocket propulsion has not been captured by the model due to the large uncertainties attached to their potential impact at different altitudes", and its Table 4 reports the Aluminium Oxide Emissions result as exactly 0.00E+00 kg Al2O3 in every mission phase and in the total, even though Table 1 lists a unit and an LCIA method (ESA 2016) for that impact category.
Scope and limits
Covers only black carbon and aluminium oxide from propellant combustion; no other excluded flow is described by this statement. The paper does NOT quantify how large the exclusion is relative to its own 23.6 gCO2e/kWh figure, and this record may not be used to imply any numerical correction to it. The authors' own characterisation is that such impacts "could be potentially meaningful", a hedged statement about modelled possibility, not a measured result.
What it assumes
No assumptions are recorded against this claim.
Where it comes from
p.4: "it should be noted that the environmental impacts of black carbon and aluminium oxide from rocket propulsion has not been captured by the model due to the large uncertainties attached to their potential impact at different altitudes. This is particularly problematic as recent research has suggested that such impacts could be potentially meaningful. However, this exclusion is a common problem in space LCA models, and not exclusive to the SSSD." Table 4 p.13, Aluminium Oxide Emissions row: 0.00E+00 kg Al2O3 for A+B, C+D, E1, E2, F and TOTAL.
Related records
- Answers question
- QST-008 not published in this release
Cite this
energyaperture.com/c/clm-0834
CLM-0834, Energy Aperture, as of 2022.
Connected records
Other published records linked to this one. A list, not a judgement.
- Also from SRC-016
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