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From: wildstar@nmtvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: transatmospheric vehicle
Message-ID: <917@nmtvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 27-Dec-85 20:22:31 EST
Article-I.D.: nmtvax.917
Posted: Fri Dec 27 20:22:31 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 29-Dec-85 05:34:40 EST
References: <>
Reply-To: wildstar@nmtvax.UUCP (Andrew Fine)
Organization: New Mexico Tech, Socorro
Lines: 19

Has anyone ever thought about the environmental impact that an air-breathing
x-atmos vehicle is likely to cause?  It is true that most of the oxidizer
mass could easily be save by relying on atmosphere.  However, what would 
happen to the atmosphere if it is relied on as oxidizer? If launches are
made as frequently as the lack of predicted expense permits, there will be
DEFINITE side effects:

Since N is a major component of the atmosphere, and S, C, and H appear in
higher than trace amounts, we can wind up with lots more nitrous oxide,
nitric oxide, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, ammonia, various hydrocarbons, 
and worst of all, free radicals, not to mention freon-like molecules.

What happens? We increase the amount of acid rain, reduce the ozone layer,
reduce the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere, and generate more petro-chemical
byproducts.

Chew on that!

Andrew Jonathan Fine