Re: NASA Re-entry

[Tad Blanchard <Tad.M.Blanchard.1@gsfc.nasa.gov>]

RADSAFERs,

After speaking with one of the principal investigators at Goddard, he
informed me that there are no radioactive check sources aboard the CGRO.

He recalled that background radiation was a problem in developing the EGRET
instrument and that a small amount of Potassium-40 (naturally occuring
isotpe) was detected in one of the ceramic coatings after manufacture.  

The detectors onboard are mainly sodium iodide and "detect" high energy
photons.  

I hope this tidbit helps a wee bit.


At 08:56 PM 10/4/98 -0500, you wrote:
>A posting by an anti nuclear group says that NASA is planning to
>bring the C. G. R. O. (Gamma Ray Observatory) back to earth in
>a controlled re-entry.  The gamma ray detectors are said (by the
>anti-nukes) to be highly radioactive.
>
>Sopurces at Godard Space Flight Center for High Energy
>Astrophysics in Greenbelt Md are mentioned as is the Energetic
>Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET).
>
>Can any RADSAFER shed light on what kind of gamma ray detector
>may be highly radioactive?
>
>Mayber they think that a detector that absorbes gamma rays
>becomes radioactive.
>
>Jesse Coleman
>RADSHOALS@AIRNET.NET
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