korfhage@UCLA-ATS@sri-unix.UUCP (09/19/83)
From: Willard Korfhage <korfhage@UCLA-ATS> Some time ago I read that a large number of spacecraft launches might affect the atmosphere, particularly the ozone layer, what with all the combustion products being released by the engines into the upper atmosphere. Does anyone know if this is true? If it is, then you may have to rethink your plans for mass migration until you find some non-combustion powered way to get people above the atmosphere (elevators?).
dgd@ukc.UUCP (D.G.Dixon) (09/24/83)
Solid fuel rocket motors certainly deposit micron-sized spheres into the atmosphere. I believe that these spherules, which are mostly alumina have a fairly short life before drifting down if they come from first stage motors (a la Space Shuttle). Such motors used higher up might well create a problem. ...!vax135!ukc!dgd