Would rockets and space shuttles burning through the atmosphere, also be depleting the ozone layer.?

Question

It seems since they have been sending more and more space shuttles and rockets up through the atmosphere, the hole in the ozone layer has been getting bigger. Has anyone actually checked that out?

Answer 1

They are actually not sending more and more rockets into space now. In 1960 there were 206 rockets launched from Cape Canaveral. In 2005 there were only 9 (nine), single digit number! This is according to the table on page 27 of the book "GO for Launch, An illustrated History of Cape Canaveral" by Joel W. Powell.

Anyway, rockets have not been shown to be a cause of ozone depletion.

By the way, the shuttle is a rocket too, and counts in the total for each year. So the 9 launches in 2005 includes the one shuttle launched that year.

Answer 2

Yes,rockets, jet liners, cars, all these man-made things which produce fumes, damage the ozone layer. Most interestingly, cows and buffaloes too harm the ozone by emitting methane as a fart while digesting food. Ants are also smaller culprits as the 'language' they normally use for interaction is an 'acid language' which produce SO2 and SO3 after reacting with other elements.

Answer 3

I think it's more of a "little strokes fell great oaks" kind of thing and there just aren't anywhere near enough rockets in any given period to make a meaningful dent.