Rise in space rocket launches could harm the ozone layer

The international space industry is in a huge and exciting growth phase – but new research shows this boost in rocket launches could damage the ozone layer.

The ozone layer in our atmosphere protects life on Earth from harmful solar UV rays, and it’s slowly healing from the effects of chlorofluorocarbons and other damaging chemicals emitted last century.

While it’s expected to completely heal within the next four decades, this progress could be undone by an upsurge in space rocket launches. 

Dr Michele Bannister is a planetary scientist at Te Kura Matū University of Canterbury, in Aotearoa New Zealand.

She’s part of a team that recently explored the tipping point when launching more rockets will begin to cause problems, and she joined us on the Thursday Daily this morning.

 

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Article in The Conversation: Rocket launches could harm the ozone layer

Research paper in Nature:   Near-future rocket launches could slow ozone recovery