William Atkins
Friday, 03 April 2009 21:27
Science -
Climate
Page 3 of 4
The research team concludes,
“The potential for limitations on launch systems due to idiosyncratic regulation to protect the ozone layer present a risk to space industrial development. The risk is particularly acute with regard to the economic rationale to develop low-cost, high flight rate launch systems.” [Abstract]
With many countries now shooting rockets into space from a variety of solid, liquid, and hybrid propellants, it would be wise to now determine how each variety reacts when reaching the stratosphere and their impact on the ozone layer.
The countries that have the ability to launch their own rockets, missiles, and spacecraft into space (and through the stratosphere) include: China, European Union (includes France and the United Kingdom, which have also independently launched rockets), India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Russia, the Ukraine, and the United States. [Wikipedia: “
Satellite”]
Many other countries have developed the ability to launch rockets into space, but have not had a successful launch. These include South Africa, Spain, Italy, Germany, Canada, Argentina, and Egypt.
North Korea and Iraq have unconfirmed launch abilities.
These countries are developing the ability to launch rockets: South Korea, Brazil, Pakistan, Romania, Taiwan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Australia, Malaysia, and Turkey
Page four concludes.
