The reaction proceeded by breaking atomic oxygen from the carbon dioxide.

It is destroyed by the reaction with atomic oxygen:

In the upper atmosphere, atomic oxygen steadily eats away at most materials.

Other analyses show atomic oxygen to be a non-problem in practice.

Between 160 and 560 km, the atmosphere consists of about 90% atomic oxygen.

Many plastics are considerably sensitive to atomic oxygen and ionizing radiation.

Coatings resistant to atomic oxygen are a common protection method, especially for plastics.

The thus produced ozone is destroyed by the reaction with atomic oxygen:

The outer atmospheric layer contained very little hydrogen and no atomic oxygen.

The experiments are hoped to provide information about just what types of gases - in addition to atomic oxygen - create the glow.