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–, CO₃^2–, SO₄^2–, 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 SO₄^2– and alkalinity from CO₃^2– 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.

Rocket and space activities are developing worldwide, but environmental concerns are overlooked in pursuing new technologies. The Republic of Kazakhstan's "Baikonur" Cosmodrome routinely launches rockets in emergencies, causing toxic fuel to spill onto and contaminate the soil. This study examines the effect of T-1 kerosene, a hydrocarbon rocket fuel of toxic hazard class 4, on the soil microbial community from the aeration zone in laboratory conditions. In three different soil samples, 15 g/kg, 30 g/kg, and 50 g/kg of T-1 kerosene were tested according to their utilization by microbes throughout three, ten, and thirty days. Based on scientific research, several strains of microorganisms were able to utilize T-1 kerosene rocket fuel, such as Acinetobacter calcoaceticum-18, Bacillus sp.-20, Micrococcus roseus-25, and Candida sp.-12/5, purifying it from 70 to 90 %. According to a study conducted after 30 days of microbiological detoxification of calcisols (loamic) (site 196) and dystric arenosols (site 31), with an initial load of 50 g/kg of T-1 kerosene, the concentration was determined. Microorganisms that produce 5 + 20 (99.83 %) and 18+20+25+12/5 (99.80 %) oil products are well utilized. During decontamination of soils contaminated with hydrocarbons was found to be present in the soil after 60 days when microorganism № 20 was used at 9.3 mg/kg, and the association of microorganism 5 + 25 at 8.88 mg/kg. The article describes the developed technology for soil detoxification using the microbiological method.

Studies of the influence of hydrocarbon rocket fuel kerosene T-1 on the physical and geochemical properties were carried out in laboratory circumstances on different types of soils: brown semi-desert soil designated as zone (U-25) located in Central Kazakhstan, mountainous brown desert soil zone (U-30) located in East Kazakhstan, and a model soil standard (control soil). The soil was treated with various concentrations (0.002–150.0 g/kg) of hydrocarbon rocket fuel kerosene T-1, while the contact time was 3, 10, and 30 days. Pollution with kerosene T-1 in concentrations 5.0–15.0 g/kg affects the hydraulic characteristics of soils from the U-25 zone, and the filtration rate decreases by 4–5 times. For the mountainous brown desert soil from the U-30 zone, the concentration of kerosene up to 15.0 g/kg does not affect the mechanical composition of the soil, as well as the availability of the main nutrients (potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen). According to the mechanical composition, both soils belong to medium loamy soils. It has been established that when soil is contaminated from the U-25 zone in concentrations 15.0–150.0 g/kg, the fraction from 1.0 to 0.05 mm increases by 4–5%, and the silty and clay fractions in the soil decrease.

Hydrocarbon-based rocket fuels, particularly kerosene grades T-1 and RG-1 used during launch vehicle operations, represent a persistent source of soil contamination in areas impacted by rocket stages. This study quantitatively evaluates the response and recovery dynamics of soil microbial communities in Calcisol (Loamic) soils from the U-25 impact area near the “Baikonur” Cosmodrome (Kazakhstan) under controlled kerosene contamination. Eleven soil samples were monitored over 90 days, including one uncontaminated control and ten samples exposed to increasing concentrations of T-1 or RG-1 (100–15,000 mg/kg). Microbial indicators included total microbial count, actinomycetes, microscopic fungi, and spore-forming bacteria, expressed as CFU/g (mean ± SD, n = 3). Acute exposure caused significant reductions in total microbial abundance (28–58%) and microscopic fungi (43–75%, p ≤ 0.05), indicating pronounced short-term toxicity. By Day 90, bacterial and actinomycete populations exhibited partial to complete recovery, with some treatments exceeding control values, suggesting metabolic adaptation and hydrocarbon utilization. In contrast, fungal populations remained consistently suppressed throughout the experiment, indicating prolonged ecological stress. No strict dose–response relationship was observed, highlighting the influence of soil physicochemical properties on microbial resilience and hydrocarbon bioavailability. These findings identify microscopic fungi as the most sensitive indicators of kerosene contamination, suggesting that indigenous bacterial and actinomycete communities play a key role in natural attenuation. The results provide quantitative thresholds relevant for environmental monitoring and support the development of microbiologically informed bioremediation strategies in areas impacted by rocket launches.

This paper proposes an approach to digitizing the environmental passport for areas where detachable parts of launch vehicles fall in Kazakhstan based on an interactive geographic information system platform and smart maps. An example is considered for zone U-4 (“Ulytau” district of the “Karaganda” region), which includes the fall zones of “Soyuz” launch vehicle blocks (IZ 26, 32, 34, 42, 56). The natural and climatic factors and hazards of the territory are analyzed: the total area of the zones under consideration exceeds 4.1 million hectares, annual precipitation varies between 218 and 289 mm, strong winds of 5.0–6.8 m/s are characteristic, and a high level of fire hazard can develop within 6–7 days. Data on fires for 2021 are provided. For an integrated assessment, a normalized system criterion, environmental sustainability indicator (0–1), has been introduced, aggregating four groups of criteria (chemical, mechanical, pyrogenic, biota) with a breakdown of contributions and calculation of uncertainty (σ and 95% CI). The system criterion of environmental sustainability map identifies local ‘hot spots’ with levels of around 0.8–1.0, while the uncertainty map shows maximums of up to 0.12–0.14 (with background values of ~0.02–0.08), which increases the validity of management decisions on monitoring and reclamation.

В статье рассмотрены этапы проектирования многофункциональной картографической платформы, предназначенной для оценки промышленного воздействия на окружающую среду в районах падения отработанных ступеней ракет-носителей и прилегающих территорий. Данная система строится по принципу модульности, для обеспечения возможности интегрирования различных типов данных: о землепользовании, климатических условиях, хозяйственной деятельности, источниках загрязнения и природоохранных мероприятиях. Для обеспечения высокой точности анализа используются современные геоинформационные технологии (ГИС), данные дистанционного зондирования Земли и методы пространственного моделирования. Это даст возможность комплексно оценивать экологические риски, прогнозировать последствия антропогенного воздействия и оперативно корректировать природоохранные стратегии. Внедрение предлагаемой системы улучшит информационное обеспечение управления в сфере экологической безопасности и создаст условия для сокращения негативного воздействия на природные экосистемы. Перспективным направлением развития ресурса является создание долгосрочного архива экологических данных для совершенствования природоохранных стратегий.