The impact of emissions from space transport systems on the state of the atmosphere

The exhaust products of space transport systems contain many substances, some of which can lead to ozone destruction. Significant changes in atmospheric constituents were calculated in a local area within a few kilometers of the exhaust trail of rockets (i.e., over 80% decreases in local ozone), although these effects are simulated to last only a few hours. Relatively small changes in atmospheric constituents are computed for regional areas within 1000 km of the exhaust trail (i.e. less than 10% decreases in column ozone), and even smaller changes are computed on a global scale (i.e., less than 0.03% decreases in total global ozone depletion).