Data on the temporal changes in soil properties at the emergency crash site of the launch vehicle ‘Soyuz-FG’ in Kazakhstan

Abstract

On October 11, 2018, in the Ulytau region of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle carrying a crewed MS-10 spacecraft failed, creating two areas where rocket propellants spilled and soil condition was monitored in 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023. This article presents data on the content of pollutants, namely unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH), nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), total N, organic carbon, exchangeable Ca and Mg, water-soluble NO3–, NO2–, HCO3–, CO32–, SO42–, Cl–, K+, Na+, pH values, cation exchange capacity and electrical conductivity of the water extract in disturbed and background Aridisols (more than 200 samples in total). This data set contains information on interseasonal (autumn 2022 and spring 2023) differences in the content and vertical differentiation of some soil properties in Aridisols in Central Kazakhstan. In autumn, the content of TPH, water-soluble Cl– and SO42– and alkalinity from CO32– is 1.4, 235, 201, and 2 times higher, respectively, and the content of total N and water-soluble NO3– and NO2–, alkalinity from HCO3– is 2.4, 1.4, 6.4 and 1.9 times lower, respectively (p < 0.05). In spring and autumn, the content of exchangeable Ca and Mg, cation exchange capacity did not differ significantly. The presented materials can be used to optimize restoration of disturbed arid ecosystems and future monitoring work at sites of regular landing of the first stages and emergency crash sites of launch vehicles.

Keywords

• Unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine (heptyl, UDMH)
• Total petroleum hydrocarbons
• Space transportation
• Jet-fuel
• Soil pollution
• Ecological indicators