Re: Nuclear-powered spacecraft plan feared

["Kim D. Merritt" <k.merritt@larc.nasa.gov>]

I receive an inventory of all radioactive materials to be launched. 

In the case of the shuttle, it is usually 2 smoke detectors, one on each

flight deck.  There may have been some radiotracers on this mission,

I'll have to try and find my memo.  The real hazard is the

toxics.  Aside from the volatiles, the shuttle is built with many

exotic materials which possess toxic properties.  Maybe one of the

other NASA RSO's lurking on the list has the launch plans more readily

available...


At 12:56 AM 2/6/03, High Plains Drifter wrote:

Nuclear Powered Space craft feared......did anyone notice that the warning on shuttle debris and that the military folks were monitoring objects for radioactivity and that the truck and trailer taking items to the air base was placarded with RAM signs!  The warning about toxics, which were volatiles, appears to be misleading and that the real hazard was radioactivity.  Can anyone shed some light on just what was aboard the shuttle that could possibly cause 1000's of fragments to be contaminated to such a degree! 
 
Dean Chaney, CHP

Kim Merritt, RRPT
Radiation/Laser Safety Officer
HazMed, Inc.
NASA Langley Research Center
Hampton, VA
(757)864-3210
<mailto:k.merritt@larc.nasa.gov>