RE: Nukes in Space...

[gerald.lahti@EXELONCORP.COM]

In a previous incarnation (1963-1973) I was at NASA-Lewis Research Center

(Nuclear Systems Division).  We looked at many missions including shipping

spent nuclear fuel to the sun.  By the time this stuff was packaged

adequately to meet range safety criteria, you might just as well leave it

laying on the beach!



* * * * * * * * * * 

Jerry Lahti

Exelon Nuclear

4300 Winfield Road

Warrenville IL 60555

phone (630) 657-3869

FAX   (630) 657-4328

gerald.lahti@exeloncorp.com

* * * * * * * * * * 



> -----Original Message-----

> From:	Steve Frantz [SMTP:sfrantz@YAHOO.COM]

> Sent:	Sunday, December 02, 2001 11:44 PM

> To:	radsafe

> Subject:	Nukes in Space...

> 

> I try to resist answering, but this is too ridiculous...

> 

> Norm Cohan writes - - - 

> I'm Ok with nuclear powered space craft as long as they are

> launched in such a way (like from the space station) that there

> is no chance of their falling back to earth.

> End quote - - -

> 

> And exactly how does the plutonium fuel get to the space station

> in the first place? By rocket.

> 

> Norm Cohen writes later in the same posting - - 

>  I suggested waiting until we had the techology necessary to

> safely rocket the waste into the sun via an equator elevator

> system which would lift the waste into orbit, and then oone

> could send it into the sun. (picked this idea up from an article

> years ago in Analog magazine).

> End quote - - - 

> 

> I read that SCIENCE FICTION story at the time and the author

> explained how it was impossible _even in theory_ to build

> anything like that. As long as you draw your science from Analog

> magazine, you must expect some ridicule.

> 

> Besides, why is the magical elevator safer than rockets? The

> point of the story was that it was cheaper. 

> 

> Sending nuclear waste to the sun is an absurd idea for many,

> many reasons that I won't go into; unless someone wants to start

> a thread on it.

> 

> Now, back to starving the stray dog and hoping he goes

> elsewhere.

> 

> Stephen Frantz

> sfrantz@yahoo.com

> 

> 

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