The title is a bit confusing. Reentry is a problem, but not because it’s a rocket plume. It’s because the satellite leaves aerosols in the atmosphere when it burns up, causing a potential failure of the ozone layer, as well as potentially harmful respiratory problems.
It’s looking like the satellite deorbit strategy of fully burning up on reentry is the exact opposite of what should happen - instead it should try to burn as little as possible and fall into the ocean.
In addition, satellite lifespan is too short, requiring more launches and deorbits.
It’s both, it’s launch exhaust and also stage re-entry. The article didn’t talk about EOL deorbiting, was an aside as the stages and other issues are always happening with every launch.
the emissions from rocket fuels,
Ah yeah, didn’t mean to minimize the impact of the launch plume, that’s an issue too. But reentry is an entirely different problem with completely different mechanics and the title was confusing about that.
Ah yeah that’s fair, I think it was this time last year that reports about the rocket exhaust plume were leaving particulates. So it’s a very recent finding, compared to de-orbiting re-entry. But as you say, it is its own issue that’s also come to light as well.
But how do we solve EOL de-orbiting, a satellite only has so much reaction mass and propellant, and if you need to reload it, is it better to launch a new one with better tech? Or to refill tanks? And then that has to be incorporated in the design. Yadda yadda.