Space Travel?

Question

When a NASA rocket takes off- does it emit Co2?

Me and a friend are figthing over this, he thinks it doesn't, but I think it does.
It has nothing to do with the fact that I am both a tree hugger and a strong HATER of space travel.

Wow... That's sooooooooo funny....
What age are you- 5?!

Answer 1

"campbelp2002" has (almost) the right answer. My cousin is a NASA engineer, and he used to test fire Space Shuttle engines.

The first stage of the old Saturn V rockets burned kerosene (a hydrocarbon) and emitted CO2, but they are not used anymore.

Most rockets, like the Space Shuttle main engines, burn H2 and emitt water vapor.

The Space Shuttle also uses two solid rocket boosters. The propellant mixture in each SRB motor consists of an ammonium perchlorate (oxidizer, 69.6 percent by weight), aluminum (fuel, 16 percent), iron oxide (a catalyst, 0.4 percent), a polymer (a binder that holds the mixture together, 12.04 percent), and an epoxy curing agent (1.96 percent). So there is some CO2 emitted, but apparently not a whole lot.

The two orbital maneuvering systems' (OMS) engines burn monomethyl hydrazine fuel (CH3NHNH2) and nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer (N2O4), but they are only used in space.

NASA is testing an engine that burns a form of rubber, which would emitt C02, but it is not currently being used (as far as I know).

Answer 2

It depends on which rocket is taking off. Some, like the space shuttle main engines, burn hydrogen fuel and emit only water vapor as exhaust. Others, like the shuttle solid rocket boosters, use carbon based fuel and do emit CO2. The only all hydrogen rocket I know of is the Delta, or some versions of it anyway.

Answer 3

I disagree with the above statements. Whether a spaceship or vehicle emits CO2 depends only on what fuel it's burning. NASA rockets and the space shuttle use liquid ox, hydrogen as fuel sources so the answer is NO!!!!. It emits Water vapor as the end product of oxidizing its fuel source. If it used fossil fuels, it would emit CO2 as well as other partially burned hydrocarbons and other chemicals.

Answer 4

There is probably more CO2 produced by the people on the ground working at NASA going to work every day than the shuttle take off .

Answer 5

Absolutely shed loads off c02 is expelled when the shuttle and boaster rocket takes off, but as anybody who has been to NASA will know, they is a massive nature preserve surrounding the area, and the given c02 values are sustained by the large area off trees and everglades.

So yes NASA pollutes but also the first people to offset there carbon footprint, I hope this puts your mind at rest.

Answer 6

Yes. (Depending on the rocket.)

However, the space shuttle does *not* use hydrocarbon based propellants, and so does not make much CO2 to any great extent (there is a percentage of carbon in the binding polymer of the solid fuel that contributes a little).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Solid_Rocket_Booster#Propellant

Answer 7

it depends on what fuel it uses. if it uses a hydrocarbon or a flammable material which has carbon atoms in it's molecule it does release CO2. if it uses a fuel like H2 or N2H4 it doesn't.

Answer 8

The liquid rockets burn hydrogen and release water.

Answer 9

Fuel in the tanks ignites to produce thrust so yes it does produce Co2.

Answer 10

ANYTHING that burns releases CO2. that is because burning requires O2.