🚀 go-pugleaf

in article <365@flatline.UUCP>, erict@flatline.UUCP (eric townsend) says:

> Ok, so that's it.  No nuclear weapons, but nuclear reactors are just fine.
> If we're allowed to launch reactors into space, why not launch the waste,
> too?  The 'what-if-it-blows-up?' answer could be applied to the launch
> of the reactor as well....

Not really. A nuclear reactor that has not been operated is simply not that
hot. Remember, you can build a reactor out of stuff you dig out of the ground.

The high level nuclear waste produced by an operating nuclear reactor is a
whole 'nuther matter. I would not like to see operating reactors being boosted
into orbit.

> My 'friend the nut case' has a very good point.  What if the rocket/shuttle
> /whatever that's carrying 46 pounds of plutonium goes blooie in lower
> atmosphere?  You gonna be ready to live inside for the next few years?
> I'm not.

I live in Utah, I'd be very surprised if less than 46 pounds of plutonium
have been spread over the state. You see, we are the preferred fallout
path for all the above ground, and more than a few of the below ground
nuclear tests performed at the Nevada nuclear test range. The state is still
quite habitable, it doesn't even glow in the dark. There are a few 
"statistical anomolies" in the cancer rate though.

Assuming a worste case accident, parts of Florida would have to be evacuated
and cleaned up. I'd be very surprised if anyone outside of the Indian River
area would be affected.

As for living inside for a couple of years, well I hope you have been very
careful in your choice of construction materials, fuels, and so forth.
If you haven't, your nice closed shelter can build up some nasty levels
of Radon. Real nice for cooking your lungs.

If you want to get upset about something real, look at the amounts
of nuclear waste put into the atmosphere every year by coal fired power
plants. Compare that to the amount released by all nuclear power plant 
accidents. 

You have to be careful with nuclear materials. But, you have to be reasonable
about assesing risks. The word "plutonium" has you jumping out of your skin
with fright. I'll bet the word "coal" doesn't frighten you at all. But I'll
bet that the coal industry kills more people every year than the plutonium
industry does.

			Bob Pendleton
-- 
Bob Pendleton @ Evans & Sutherland
UUCP Address:  {decvax,ucbvax,ihnp4,allegra}!decwrl!esunix!bpendlet
Alternate:     {ihnp4,seismo}!utah-cs!utah-gr!uplherc!esunix!bpendlet
        I am solely responsible for what I say.