Final answer:
High operational costs, health risks due to radiation exposure for astronauts, technical issues due to solar flares and CMEs affecting electronics and satellite communications are key disadvantages of acquiring images from rockets.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are several disadvantages of acquiring images from rockets. When humans are required to operate these rockets, as with the space shuttle, it results in a high operational cost comparable to expendable, unpiloted rockets, which negates some of the economical benefits of reusable parts like the solid fuel boosters. Furthermore, the presence of humans in space exposes them to high levels of radiation during solar storms or outbursts, which can have serious health implications and career limitations for astronauts. Rockets launched from airplanes can mitigate some of these issues by starting at a higher initial velocity and avoiding much of the atmosphere's resistance.
In addition to human risks, there are also technical challenges. Solar flares can shower Earth's upper atmosphere with X-rays and other energetic particles, which can ionize atoms and build up a static charge on a spacecraft. This static discharge can damage vital electronics onboard. Furthermore, coronal mass ejections (CMEs) can distort satellite signals, reducing the accuracy of critical systems like GPS which can impact airplane navigation and operations.