so, Artemis test flight AKA Should Launch Someday, 16-Nov-2022

[DaveL59]

Isn't another downside of the commercial the fact that rather than using hydrogen and oxygen as propellant they're using something far less eco friendly? So with lots of 'development' launches and failures, then a constant stream of viable ones they're likely adding more pollutant into the atmosphere than a multitude of long-haul airline flights?

[Louis D]

5 hours ago, DaveL59 said:

Isn't another downside of the commercial the fact that rather than using hydrogen and oxygen as propellant they're using something far less eco friendly? So with lots of 'development' launches and failures, then a constant stream of viable ones they're likely adding more pollutant into the atmosphere than a multitude of long-haul airline flights?

Since many early rockets used RP-1 (a highly refined kerosene) just as SpaceX's Merlin and Kestrel engines, I don't see how it's all that much worse now than then.  Also, consider all of the burned kerosene in the form of jet fuel, also highly refined, in airliners every day.  SpaceX is migrating over to methane fueled engines for their future rockets.  I have no idea how it compares to RP-1 as a pollutant, though.