Rocket launches rising in number threatens ozone layer

Admin

September 17, 2025
3 min read

Rocket launches rising in number threatens ozone layer

The rapid increase in rocket launches around the world may be slowing the recovery of the ozone layer. That’s according to Sandro Vattioni, Staff of Professorship for Experimental Atmospheric Physics at ETH Zurich. The issue is being underestimated but could potentially be mitigated through forward-looking and coordinated action.

In recent years, there has been an increase in satellites thanks to a booming space industry. While this leads to many exciting prospects, it raises concerns for the environment. Rocket launches as well as space debris release pollutants into the atmosphere. These can damage the vital ozone layer which shields us from harmful UV radiation.

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Research on the effects of rocket emissions on the ozone layer began over three decades ago. For a while, this was considered small. This is beginning to change, especially as the amounts of launches increases. In 2019, there were only 97 orbital space rocket launches globally. By 2024, that number has skyrocketed to 258. It is only expected to keep climbing.

In the middle and upper atmosphere, emissions from both rockets and re-entering space debris can remain up to 100 times longer than emissions from ground-based sources. This is due to the lack of removal processes, including cloud-driven washout. While most launches take place in the Northern Hemisphere, atmospheric circulation can spread them globally.

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