Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Mars colony plan: Mankind’s victory in space may cost future generations dear — know why | Mint<img src='https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=6035286&cv=4.4.0&cj=1'>SubscribeSign inView Market DashboardHomeLatest NewsMarketsMarket NewsMark to MarketCommoditiesLive BlogsCryptocurrencyIPOStock MarketsMarket DataStock PagesIndex pagesBullionGold SilverFuelPetrolDieselNewsIndiaWorldWSJEconomistUS NewsTrendsPremium e-paperGlobal Partners WSJEconomistBarron'sMint SpecialsMint ExplainersMark to MarketLong StoryMint PrimerSnapviewSectionsCompaniesTechnologyMarketsMoneyMutual FundsInsuranceAutoIndustryPersonal FinanceCompaniesStart-upsCompany ResultsPeopleMoneyPersonal FinanceInsurance Ask Mint MoneyMutual FundsMyMintIPL Schedule 2025Personal LoanTechnologyGadgetsTech ReviewsApp News5G TechFoldable SmartphonesMint HindiMoreElection 2025OpinionAuto NewsSportsOrange Cap in IPLPurple Cap in IPLIPL 2025EducationTools IFSC Code FinderIncome Tax CalculatorMint LoungeMintGenie Multi-MediaVideosWebStories Photo GalleryPodcastsExplore MintAbout usPrint subscriptionMint AuthorsSubscriber terms of usePrivacy PolicyTerms of UseDisclaimerMint codeCookie PolicyCode of ethicsSitemapContact UsHindustan TimesLive HindustanHealthshotsCredit Card Hello UserSign inSign OutMy AccountSubscribeMy WatchlistNewslettersNotificationsMy ReadsFor YouView Less -View More +Data InsightsMarket DashboardBullionGoldSilverFuelPetrolDieselCommoditiesGoldGoldMAluminumMenthaoilSilverSilverMICGoldPetalNatural GasCopperZincSilverMCrudeOilGoldGinueaLeadCryptoCurrenciesView Less -View More +Top SectionsToday's NewsIndia NewsWorld NewsUS News TodayBudget 2025EconomyMoney NewsPersonal FinanceQ&AOpinionCompany Business NewsIPO NewsStart-upsCompany ResultsTop Company LeaderStock Market NewsStock MarketsCommodity NewsMark To MarketIPO NewsLive Blogpersonal loanpersonal loan emi calculatorPersonal Loan Interest RatePersonal Loan EligibilityBusiness LoanInstant LoanElection Results 2025Assembly Elections 2025Indian Industry AnalysisBanking NewsInfotech NewsInfrastructureAgricultureManufacturingEnergy NewsRetail NewsAuto NewsSports NewsOpinionViewsColumnsTechnology NewsGadgetsTech ReviewsApp NewsPolitics NewsLoungeBusiness of LifeSports NewsIPL 2025 IPL 2025 Points Table IPL 2025 Orange CapIPL 2025 Purple CapIPL Match Today | IPL 2025 ScheduleEducation News TodayView Less -View More +Premium Offeringse-paperWSJEconomistBarron'sMyMintMint PremiumView Less -View More +Tools and CalculatorsIFSC Code FinderIncome Tax CalculatorSIP CalculatorEMI CalculatorHome Loan EMI CalculatorCar Loan EMINPS CalculatorView Less -View More +MultiMedia CollectionsVideosWebStoriesPhoto GalleryPodcastsView Less -View More +More From MintMint GenieMint LoungeMint HindiView Less -Explore MintAbout UsPrint SubscriptionMint AuthorsTerms of UseDisclaimerMint CodeCode of ethicsCookie PolicyPrivacy PolicySubscriber - Terms of UseSITEMAPContact UsMint AppsView Less -View More +Copyright © HT Digital Streams Limited All Rights Reserved.Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Mars colony plan: Mankind’s victory in space may cost future generations dear — know whyFollowing SpaceX's Starship explosion, the issue of space debris emerges as a significant environmental concern. Here's what mankind's space venture could cost future generations Sudeshna GhoshalUpdated10 Mar 2025, 08:25 PM ISTSpace race’s hidden cost: Will future generations pay the price? Why is it a concern?(REUTERS)Humanity's drive to conquer space is undeniable. Recently, Elon Musk's SpaceX Starship exploded 10 minutes into the latest flight test. The ‘failure’, however, did not sway him from his project to ‘colonise’ Mars — a plan that has been widely talked about ever since US President Donald Trump's DOGE major-domo announced it in September 2024.But at what cost? Are human beings pushing the boundaries of what's possible?Also Read | Teen SpaceX engineer Kairan Quazi returns to LinkedIn after age-related banAmid the already rising levels of pollution that plague regions across the world, scientists have now found out another pollutant — space debris — that threatens Earth's Stratosphere, the atmospheric region that holds our planet’s fragile, protective ozone layer.LiveMint takes a deep dive into why this is a cause of concern.Satellites ‘choking’ up space — what is happening?In January 2025, over 100 communication satellites burned up in Earth’s atmosphere, vapourising as they crashed towards the planet at a speed of eight km per second, reported The Economist.Also Read | Sunita Williams’ return date revealed! Will she say ‘final good-bye’ to space?When satellites burn up, they release particles of metals like aluminium, copper, lithium, and niobium into the stratosphere. This layer is responsible for absorbing harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, protecting life on Earth.Why is it a concern?Incidents of space debris clogging up the Earth's atmosphere have been very common. Moreover, the Blue Planet's atmosphere has also been bombarded by foreign bodies, such as meteoroids and cosmic dust, for billions of years. With around 11,000 satellites currently in Earth's orbit, space debris from satellites, however, has now become a concern.Burning up of these satellites sends a ‘different set of metals’ into the atmosphere, John Plane from the University of Leeds told The Economist. For instance, aluminium particles could react with oxygen to form alumina, creating a surface for other chemical reactions. One such reaction could release chlorine, a substance that destroys ozone, which protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.Also Read | US Space Force’s mysterious X-37B returns to earth after 434 days in orbitA 2023 study by Scientific American (SCI AM) also revealed that the metals are accumulating within sulfuric acid particles, which constitute most of the stratosphere’s particulates and influence our world’s ozone layer and climate.What is the way out?Several experts have noted that making smaller satellites could reduce the threats posed by the increasing space debris. For instance, Starlink’s spacecraft weigh about 800 kilogrammes at launch, and Elon Musk predicted that future generations could be even heavier. But low-weight satellites could significantly reduce the harmful impacts of collision.Also Read | SpaceX loses contact with Starship 8, viral videos show scattered debrisMaking reusable rockets and maneuverable satellites could also help tackle the issue of increasing space junk, as per a journal by the Federation of American Scientists.Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.Business NewsScienceElon Musk’s SpaceX and Mars colony plan: Mankind’s victory in space may cost future generations dear — know whyMoreLessFirst Published:10 Mar 2025, 08:06 PM ISTGet Instant Loan up to ₹10 Lakh!Enter Mobile NumberEmployment TypeSalariedSelf-Employed BusinessApply NowMost Active StocksMarket SnapshotTop GainersTop Losers52 Week HighTrending In Market IndusInd Bank sharesSun PharmaOla Electric share price BSE share price Adani GreenSmall cap stockRecommended For YouMore RecommendationsGold Prices24K22KFuel PricePetrolDieselPopular in ScienceStory Url has been added to your clipboardDownload AppDownload the Mint app and read premium storiesTrending StoriesIndusInd Bank shares Maharashtra state budget Maharashtra budget 2025 LIVE Chhaava Box Office Collection Champions Trophy 2025 Indian stock market Mark Carney Suzlon Share Price ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Points Table ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Most Runs ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Most Wickets Livemint Hindi Bank Holidays in Gujarat Bank Holidays in Delhi Bank Holidays in September Income Tax Calculator 2025 Bank Holidays in Jammu And Kashmir Instant Personal Loan Check Credit Score Online Business Loan Personal Loan Interest Rate Personal Loan Eligibility Personal Loan EMI Calculator Gold Rate in Delhi Gold Rate in Bangalore Gold Rate in Chennai Gold Rate in Hyderabad Gold Rate in Mumbai Business Radio - FAB Play Assembly Election Results Credit Card Personal Loan Online Gold Rate India Bank Holidays India Stocks to Buy Today Recommended Stocks to Watch Popular StocksJSW INFRASTRUCTURE share priceR R KABEL share priceCONCORD BIOTECH share priceIDBI Bank share priceYes Bank share priceAdani Power share priceHUL share priceIndian Oil share priceVedanta share priceJio Financial Services share pricePaytm share pricePunjab National Bank share priceCanara Bank share priceAdani Green Energy share priceIndian Railway Finance Corporation share priceSuzlon Energy share priceIREDA share priceVodafone Idea share priceOrient Technologies share pricePremier Energies share priceBajaj Housing Finance Share PriceGaruda Construction And Engineer share priceHyundai Motor India share priceNifty 50 companiesADANI ENTERPRISES share priceADANI PORTS share priceAPOLLO HOSPITALS share priceASIAN PAINTS share priceAXIS BANK share priceBAJAJ AUTO share priceBAJAJ FINANCE share priceBAJAJ FINSERVE share priceBPCL share priceBHARTI AIRTEL share priceBRITANNIA share priceCIPLA share priceCOAL INDIA share priceDIVIS LABORATORIES share priceDR REDDYS LABORATORIES share priceEICHER MOTORS share priceGRASIM INDUSTRIES share priceHCL TECHNOLOGIES share priceHDFC BANK share priceHDFC LIFE share priceHERO MOTOCORP share priceHINDALCO INDUSTRIES share priceHINDUSTAN UNILEVER share priceICICI BANK share priceITC share priceINDUSIND BANK share priceINFOSYS share priceJSW STEEL share priceKOTAK BANK share priceLARSEN & TOURBO share priceMAHINDRA & MAHINDRA share priceMARUTI SUZUKI share priceNTPC share priceNESTLE INDIA share priceONGC share pricePOWER GRID share priceRELIANCE INDUSTRIES share priceSBI LIFE share priceSBI share priceSUN PHARMA share priceTCS share priceTATA MOTORS share priceTATA STEEL share priceTATA CONSUMER share priceTECH MAHINDRA share priceTITAN share priceUPL share priceULTRATECH CEMENT share priceWIPRO share priceLatest StoriesSectionPremiumOpinionNewsMarketPoliticsCompaniesMoneySportsMutual FundIndustryTechnologyToolsIFSC Code FinderIncome Tax CalculatorSIP CalculatorHome Loan EMI CalculatorCar Loan EMINPS CalculatorData PagesMarket DashboardIndicesTop GainerMutual FundsGold PriceSilver PriceFuel PriceAbout UsMint AuthorsContact usTerms of UseCode of EthicsPrivacy PolicyRSSCopyright © 2025 HT Digital Streams Limited. 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