When Rockets Meet Sharks: The Hidden Impacts Of The Brazilian Space Program

Space exploration has always captured our imagination, but have you ever wondered about its potential effects on our marine friends? In a groundbreaking study, scientists have delved into the lesser-known consequences of the Brazilian Space Program on coastal sharks.

The global space sector has experienced remarkable transformations, driven by the ongoing privatization of space activities, which has set its sights on space tourism and the captivating ‘race to Mars.’ This shift has been made possible, in part, by the availability of skilled professionals who were let go by NASA following successive cuts in public funding over the past decade. In Brazil, the Brazilian Space Agency, takes charge of the Brazilian Space Program, securing the country's prominence in the South American space race and establishing Brazil as a valued partner in the International Space Station project. Originally under military command, the agency underwent a crucial transition to civilian control in 1994. Since then, it has been an autonomous entity under the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation and has adopted a collaborative approach to technology development, forming alliances with more advanced space programs, including BRICS member nations, Ukraine, and the United States, aligning its priorities with the space race agenda of the governing political party.

“The Alcântara Launch Center is the second launch base under the command of the Brazilian Air Force, located in the state of Maranhão, on Brazil’s northern Atlantic coast,” explain the authors in their new paper, led by scientist Natascha Wosnick. “[It] was built as an alternative to the Barreira do Inferno Launch Center, located in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, as high-density urban areas did not allow for base expansions. The first launch carried out at the Alcântara Launch Center was called ‘Mission Pioneer,’ and aimed to launch the first SBAT-type rocket carrying payloads for biological and physical tests.”

But while the Brazilian Space Program has been hailed for its advancements in space exploration, the impact on the local coastal ecosystem has remained a mystery. Specifically, the interaction between a certain predator with rocket launches and space activities has received little scientific attention—until now. “This is a significant cause of concern, as these activities are known to result in high environmental contamination levels due to the employed fuel compounds, resulting in both direct and indirect environmental and human health risks,” say the authors. “For example, primary pollutants that can result from space fuel burning may undergo transformation processes (i.e., secondary pollutants), displaying the potential for accumulation and biomagnification processes.”

Led by curiosity, the researchers embarked on an extraordinary mission to investigate the potential negative effects of the Brazilian Space Program on coastal sharks. The research was two-fold, with the team deploying baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVS) to capture the behaviors of these enigmatic creatures, along with equipping several individuals with tags that monitor their movements. The team discovered a startling decline in shark populations near space program launch sites. The thunderous noise, seismic vibrations, and electromagnetic fields emitted by rocket launches seem to disrupt the otherwise peaceful quiet of this underwater realm. It was clear from the data that sharks, like celebrities avoiding the paparazzi, alter their behavior and steer clear of these noisy zones.

Not only that, but rubidium was detected in the muscle tissue of several other top marine predators in the vicinity of the Alcântara Launch Center for tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier), bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas), Atlantic nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum), smalltail sharks (Carcharhinus porosus), blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus), Atlantic sharpnose sharks (Rhizoprionodon porosus), daggernose sharks (Isogomphodon oxyrhynchus) and scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini). Rubidium is used as fuel and as an element in space propulsion systems. Though rarely detected in wild animals, it appears toxic to their reproductive organs and exhibits bioaccumulation and biomagnification abilities throughout the trophic chain... that it was seen in so many sharks around the space center is concerning to the scientists.

This convergence of Brazilian shark habitat and areas of intense space program activity underscores the urgent need for proactive conservation measures. The authors stress that mitigation strategies should focus on minimizing disturbance levels during rocket launches, such as implementing noise-reducing technologies and establishing larger exclusion zones around launch sites. Additionally, they suggest long-term monitoring programs should be implemented to assess population recovery and the effectiveness of conservation efforts.