Space Travel and the ozone layer

[luna-tic]

Why do scientists at NASA have satellite equipment to measure the effects of gas emissions when surely all the Apollo missions and Shuttle launches must be some of the biggest contributors to holes in the ozone layer?

[dawkins]

Luna-tic

I can see what you are saying. The article below covers the shuttle. They don't seem to be too problematic relative to, say, aviation fuel and the frequency of manned space flight is relatively low. I'm not sure about the Apollo or Gemini missions. I doubt they considered the environmental impact back then. Other space programs from Russia, Europe, etc. and commercial launches would also need to be considered.

Environmental impact is always a tricky one. How about all that pollution from the diesel powered recycling lorries and the energy required to recycle when we could use refillable containers. Never an easy answer.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4130980.st m