Problem Definition: Currently, no methodology for assessing the environmental impacts of the complete life cycle, especially from launch and re-entry, exist. US has been researching the environmental impact of space transportation systems for multiple years now, developing a tool for the comprehensive assessment of the environmental impact of the life cycle of rockets based on LCA. Many individual research questions have arisen, which are to be addressed as part of the project in order to improve methodology.
Research Objectives:
- Based on the given developed methodology, closing knowledge gaps with a special focus on an assessment methodology for launch and re-entry (emission calculation, particle emissions, characterization)
- Implementation and improvement of the existing tool based on the findings from other DCs (e.g. measurement and simulation data on emission, calculated impact characterization factors)
- Development of future scenarios of space launcher market to provide them as common scenarios for the consortium (based on market studies and own research)
- Development of launch- and re-entry emission databases for atmospheric simulation for current and future possible scenarios
- Further development of characterization factors especially for high-altitude emissions
Expected Results:
- A methodology for life cycle assessment of the global impact of space transportation systems complete lifecycle with a focus on high altitude emissions
- Future scenarios of space launches and re-entries as a common input for the consortium
- Emission databases based on different scenarios for space transportation
- Impact assessment of the scenarios.
Secondments:
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland, ca. 3 months): improvement of launcher LCA within ACT
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik e.V. (DLR, Weßling, Germany, ca. 4 months): feasibility study to adapt a surrogate model to assess the climate impact of aviation, OpenAirClim, to rocket launch emissions
Main Supervisor:
Co-Supervisors:
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