Somewhat surprisingly, rockets and space exploration do not get the withering climate change condemnation that the aviation industry experiences. True, there were only ~174 rocket launches the entire year but over 100,000 flights/day in 2022.

The message that keeps getting repeated and seems to be building in intensity is that aviation, after cars, is the cause of climate change. Yet, aviation only creates 2.5% of all CO2 while concrete creates 8% — but few are calling for the end to housing and roads.

While 96% of the world has never flown and many others could give up their flying days, for the world in general, aviation provides tremendous benefits. The aviation industry needs to do a better job marketing the tremendous value that flights offer the world in human connection, expansion of opportunities, commerce, improvement in standards of living, tolerance, knowledge, etc.

Somehow, the rocket industry has done a much better job articulating the value of launching rockets than the aviation industry has done in sharing the tremendous value that it offers. They have managed to avoid the wrath of climate change activists.

The following recent Pew Research survey shows that American’s generally favor space exploration, just not going to the moon or Mars.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/10/investing-in-space-pew-survey-of-americans-on-nasa-priorities.html