Reusable Rockets Cut Waste but Aren't Inherently 'Green', RSIS Warns
A new analysis suggests that while reusability lowers production costs, global governance is essential to prevent orbital congestion.
The shift toward reusable launch vehicles is transforming the economics of space access, but technological efficiency alone cannot guarantee environmental sustainability. A recent commentary from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) argues that while reusable rockets mitigate certain industrial impacts, they require strengthened international governance to avoid a 'tragedy of the commons' in Earth's orbit.
According to the RSIS report, the transition from expendable rockets—which required a new vehicle for every mission—to reusable systems has significantly lowered material consumption and industrial waste. The report highlights SpaceX's Falcon 9, which has completed more than 575 successful booster reflights, as a primary example of this shift. China has also entered the field, demonstrating reusable launch capability through the successful recovery of the Long March 10B booster. These advancements decrease the carbon footprint associated with the production of new rocket stages and reduce the amount of discarded hardware left in the environment.
The Sustainability Paradox
Despite these gains, the authors, Ysa Marie Cayabyab and Anna Andrea Felicitas Hepp, caution that "reusable rockets, however, should not be regarded as inherently ‘green’. Every launch still produces greenhouse gas emissions and other atmospheric impacts." The report suggests a paradox where lower launch costs may actually increase the total number of launches and satellites. This surge in activity could potentially offset the environmental benefits achieved through reusability, leading to higher cumulative atmospheric pollution.
Governance and Orbital Risk
As space activity scales, the risks extend beyond the atmosphere to orbital congestion. The democratization of space access enables larger satellite constellations, but without coordinated oversight, this could lead to unsustainable levels of space debris. The RSIS analysis emphasizes that true sustainability requires a combination of corporate transparency and strengthened regional and international governance. Specifically, the report claims that ASEAN should develop shared frameworks for satellite regulation and harmonized licensing principles to prevent 'regulatory arbitrage,' where companies seek out the most lenient jurisdictions to operate.
The Path Forward
Moving forward, the industry must balance rapid innovation with long-term stewardship of the space environment. The RSIS report concludes that technological breakthroughs in reusability are only one part of the solution. The next critical phase will be the establishment of global norms and regional agreements to ensure that the increased frequency of space missions does not compromise the safety and sustainability of the orbital environment for future generations.