Re: Plutonium on Next Atlas V - Bad Idea?

Cardman wrote:
> On 15 Aug 2005 06:51:17 -0700, "Ed Kyle" <edkyle99@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> >Cardman wrote:
> >> Yes, but not that much. Due to past launches the public now sees that
> >> there is little risk here.
> >
> >I suspect the "public" who live near the Cape
> >wouldn't agree with the "little risk" bit. They
> >remember quite clearly Titan 4A-20, Delta 241,
> >and Delta 259, all of which blew up within
> >eye and ear shot of the Cape during the past eight
> >years.
>
> So what are they going to do?
>
> Watch this launch, while licking their lips, eagerly wanting this
> rocket to explode. And should it really do so, they will all rush out
> of their houses, race to be the first to get to these RTGs, crack them
> open, and then to quickly feast themselves on the plutonium contents?

No one would need to hug an RTG. The study
says that there is about a 1 in 300 chance
that plutonium will be released. This would
be the result of impact forces during a launch
vehicle explosion cracking open the RTGs,
releasing plutonium. The Atlas 551
configuration, because it is composed of more
parts, has a higher chance of launch failure
(a predicted 6.2% chance of failure) than the
versions that have flown to date.

- Ed Kyle

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Plutonium on Next Atlas V - Bad Idea?
    ... Due to past launches the public now sees that ... >wouldn't agree with the "little risk" bit. ... Watch this launch, while licking their lips, eagerly wanting this ... of their houses, race to be the first to get to these RTGs, crack them ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Whats the matter with Dan Simmons?
    ... hitting a Silkworm on one shot, then its chance of _missing_ is 20 ... with the two missiles fires is 96 percent. ... yields paybacks to an attacker. ... If I launch 5 ...
    (rec.arts.sf.written)
  • Activist cranks oppose the mission
    ... They've used Plutonium in many spacecraft, ... Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space. ... the launch of Cassini to Saturn in 1997. ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: Activist cranks oppose the mission
    ... > spacecraft to Saturn carrying 72 pounds of plutonium fuel. ... > Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space. ... > the launch of Cassini to Saturn in 1997. ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: Is Crew Launch Vehicle Too Big?
    ... >> destroying the launch tower, ... you'd still assume a 50% chance of success? ... > launch vehicles if you look back at history. ... So 60% success, but the average number of stages for the successful ...
    (sci.space.policy)