Rocket re-entry pollution measured in atmosphere for first time

Paris, France (AFP) Feb 19, 2026
When part of a SpaceX rocket re-entered Earth's atmosphere exactly a year ago, it created a spectacular fireball that streaked across Europe's skies, delighting stargazers and sending a team of scientists rushing towards their instruments. The German team managed to measure the pollution the rocket's upper stage emitted in our planet's difficult-to-study upper atmosphere - the first time th