Fueling Rockets: Is it Harmful?
I love the resources that are available to me with the click of a button. This article is one of such items because it discusses a seldom considered topic: rockets and their environmental impacts. Since I have an obsessive personality, it is something that has passed through my mind once or twice. Now someone has done the research!
The problem with space shuttles' environmental impact is complicated. Rocket fuel, like regular car fuel, is detrimental to the environment. In fact, rocket fuel does greater damage than a traditional form of transportation would be allowed to get away with. It was found that the fuel leaves particles in the air and destroys ozone molecules.
As a science teacher, I cannot help but go on a slight tangent and make sure ozone is understood. Ozone is made of three oxygen atoms and is a crucial chemical that prevents harmful rays from the sun and space from reaching the earth. Without ozone, the earth would be similar to Mars and very much lifeless. When ozone molecules are destroyed, it takes a great deal of time before they are repaired again.
Ok, back on topic. So rocket fuel is bad for the ozone and leaves grit that causes problems in the sky. It is not as big of an issue as it may first appear because rockets are not all that common. The amount of damage done to the ozone owes little to our space explorations.
My question would be that even though there are not very many rockets going into space, shouldn't we still try to push for a greener technology since it still has an impact, no matter how small?
