Research: Atmospheric Pollution from Rocket Re-entry

New research reveals that a rocket re-entry into the atmosphere is linked to the creation of a pollution cloud. Researchers detected increased lithium levels in the upper atmosphere in February 2025, attributed to the disintegration of a rocket part.

The study, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, is the first direct detection of pollution in the upper atmosphere from the re-entry of space debris. The researchers, led by the German Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics, used lidar to measure the concentration of lithium.

In the early hours of February 20, 2025, they recorded a sudden increase in lithium concentration, ten times the usual. Using models, they identified a Falcon 9 rocket upper stage that had re-entered the atmosphere as a likely source.

The researchers warn that pollution of the upper atmosphere is likely to increase due to the increase in space launches.