In 2024, eight Soyuz launch vehicles launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome created 40 falling sites in Central and Northern Kazakhstan. During field work at all falling sites, the area of disturbances was assessed. The average area of zones containing large fragments was 63 m2, and the average area of scatter fields of small fragments was 11,605 m2. The maximum area of jet fuel spills reached 125 m2, and that of hydrogen peroxide spills reached 196 m2. In 2024, due to falling debris, total mechanical disturbances covered 6912 m2, and total pyrogenic impact effected 1,211,453 m2. At the first stage falling sites during the plant growing season, the area affected by fires and H2O2 spills was significantly larger, while the area of very weak mechanical disturbance was smaller (p < 0.05). During the mud season, the area with very strong mechanical impact was greater compared to winter and summer (p < 0.002). Compared to the first stage falling sites, the Soyuz abort mode falling sites were characterized by a larger area of very strong mechanical impact (p < 0.02), evidenced by deep craters, and a smaller area covered by large fragments. The data obtained can be used when planning launch dates from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to minimize negative environmental impact on the fragile and slow-recovering arid ecosystems of Central and Northern Kazakhstan. Information on disturbance areas can be used to monitor the natural recovery of affected ecosystems and to calculate the environmental damage caused by rocket and space activities in 2024.
Семенков et al. (Tue,) studied this question.