Note that there is not a significantly large percentage increase in any of the minor compounds, although the percentages are approaching these levels. The level of N0x is probably the most significant, and the most uncertain. More work is needed in this area. In summary, although stratospheric chemistry may be altered slightly by a large launch rate of HLLV's, the effects should be minimal as long as careful attention is given to the choice of propellant, propellant combustion conditions, and launch vehicle geometry. c. Ionosphere An unpredicted effect of releasing large quantities of HnO and H2 in the F-region of the ionsphere was measured on May 14, 1973, with the launch of the Skylab Workshop. "The effect was a large and rapid decrease in the total number of ionospheric electrons within a distance of 1000 kilometers of the burning engines of the Saturn V launch vehicle." (reference 5). This hole lasted for several hours. The same effect could be expected from the second stage of the HLLV if this stage were ignited between 200km and 400km; thus, a large launch frequency could cause a significant reduction in ionospheric electrons. This would effect short wave communications and have the positive effect of giving astronomers a new window, as suggested in reference 6. However, the effect will be reduced by avoiding ignition in this region. However, there is a sufficient ion density at the 500 km altitude that this effect should be studied further. d. Magnetosphere and Space 1. The effects of releasing propellants in the magnetosphere from the orbital transfer vehicle, could possibly cause magnetic substorms. The propellant gases would slowly be ionized and become trapped in the Earth's magnetic field. Although this effect is probably insignificant, it should be looked at closer. 2. Space Debris (litter) The indiscriminate releasing of objects in Earth orbit would lead to a major problem for the solar power station, as well as any other large structures in Earth orbit. For example, if each of the 4700 launches per year left only one object in some indiscriminate orbit, then every 5 months we would inject the equivalent number of objects known to be in low Earth orbit in 1970. This 1970 number leads to about 1 impact per year on a 10 km power station at 200 km, and to 50 impacts per year at 800 km. (reference 7). Thus, not only is it important not to release new objects in space, some old ones will probably have to be retrieved.
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