Could rocket ships contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer?

Question

I am not a science person, this was a thought that I was pondering.

I am not a science person, this was just something that I have been pondering.

Answer 1

This is a good question. To complement some of the answers already given, the ships would contribute to the ozone problem, but it currently is far far less than the emissions that trains, air planes and automobiles currently put out.

Also, commercial space travel will be starting to happen more frequently with the launch of Virgin Galactic in the next few years. BUT - Even with more space launches about to occur, the technology used in these space craft will be of hybrid fuel designs.

To quote Richard Branson in a recent interview:

Whitehorn and Branson both said that SpaceShipTwo will rely on a new type of hybrid rocket fuel, one slightly different from the rubber and nitrous oxide mixture that propelled SpaceShipOne into suborbital space three times in 2004.


The WhiteKnightTwo will also rely on new, cleaner-burning jet engines and bear a close resemblance to the Virgin GlobalFlyer aircraft, which was also built by Rutan’s Scaled Composites and flew around the world without refueling in 2005.


“If you’re going to build a spaceship, you’ve got to build a green spaceship,” Branson said, adding that the carbon dioxide output from a single spaceflight is on par with those of a business class seat aboard commercial aircraft.

Answer 2

i like this question..... ok what takes position with a CFC: that's emitted from someplace on earth and then floats as a lot because the better surroundings (a similar section our ozone layer is discovered). even as the CFC (chloroflourocarbon - Chlorine Flourine Carbon) is hit with image voltaic radiation it reacts and splits off right into a flourine carbon (CF) and a chlorine (Cl). Chlorine in this state is particularly reactive so it then reacts with the ozone (O3 subscript 3) to sort ClO. This then signifies that O3 now no longer exists in elementary words O2. O2 is the oxygen that we breath, even with the indisputable fact that it does no longer carry a similar features as ozone (O3). O2 does no longer block UV radiation nore does it do some thing else O3 does. we like O2 in the decrease surroundings with a purpose to breath, even with the indisputable fact that that's ineffective in the better surroundings particularly as antagonistic to O3. even as the chlorine molecule tears aside the oxygen molecule we are truly witnessing how the ozone layer being depleted. it quite is the most technical and clinical definition available. wish it helps....

Answer 3

may be since the CFC can depleted the ozone layer ,and it is possible for the rocket to release such harmful gas even it is in the small amount!

Answer 4

Not much. The amount of pollution released by spaceships, while large for the spaceships' own mass, is miniscule compared to the amount released by cars, power plants, factories, ships, etc.

Answer 5

They do right now, but it's not huge.

If space travel became routine it would be a major problem.

Answer 6

They do, but the total volume of their exhaust is not troublesome.

Answer 7

they punch a hole in it when they pass through it..