The Growing Rocket Industry May Pose a Threat to the Ozone Layer's Recovery

The AO Editors

Exaust plumes from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket over Boca Chica, Texas

SpaceX Images/Flickr, CC BY-SA

Rocket emissions released into the upper atmosphere pose a threat to the recovery of the ozone layer, and the rocket industry's rapid expansion could erase the work done in recent decades to save the ozone layer. The ozone layer is on track to recover within the next four decades, according to a recent UN research, but the expected increase in rocket launches during the same time period could impede this progress.

The ozone layer safeguards life on Earth from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. The discovery of the "ozone hole" over Antarctica in 1985 prompted a coordinated global movement to limit the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), the substances responsible for the disintegration of the ozone layer. This initiative resulted in the implementation of the Montreal Protocol in 1987 and prevented a worldwide crisis.

Yet, the global space business is expanding rapidly, with the number of rocket launches increasing year. These rockets emit gases and particles that can delay the regeneration of the ozone layer. Rocket fuel emissions are not controlled, and the combustion of the four principal fuel types utilized for rocket propulsion — liquid kerosene, cryogenic, hypergolic, and solid — creates ozone-depleting gaseous and particle exhaust pollutants.

Methane, a novel fuel utilized in multiple rocket engines, is also being developed by major launch firms; however, its emissions products are not yet understood. The burning of rocket fuels in the upper atmosphere produces emissions that stay considerably longer than those produced at lower altitudes, and even small amounts of an exhaust byproduct can have a more devastating effect on the ozone layer.

The expected increase of the launch sector in the coming decades could have a considerable impact on the ozone layer, notwithstanding the current low number of launches. It is anticipated that the global space business would reach $3.7 trillion by 2040.

Rocket launch providers, environmental regulators, atmospheric research scientists, and government agencies must work together to solve this problem. Gathering and sharing data is the first step in developing sustainable operations based on best practices. People who construct and launch rockets should estimate emissions throughout the design process and measure the actual emissions produced by the launch vehicles. Working with researchers to sample atmospheric emission plumes would aid in the development of a knowledge of the actual effects of emissions on the ozone layer.

In the early stages of rocket development, accurate simulations of the influence emissions have on the atmosphere are also important for evaluating emissions. This necessitates coordination between the space business and the ozone scientific community, since each possesses a complimentary piece of the puzzle that feeds regulatory discussion.

In conclusion, the coordination of aerospace businesses, scientists, and governments is required for the creation of sustainable worldwide rocket launches. That is possible, but immediate action is required to close the policy gap and protect the ozone layer. This is an opportunity to secure the long-term viability of the rocket business while safeguarding the environment.