NASA's Cassini Mission: Power Source.
8TH DAY FOCUS
June, July, August 1996
CANCEL CASSINI
In her book Nuclear Madness, Dr. Helen Caldicott, founder of Physicians for Social Responsibility, writes about plutonium: "It is so toxic that less than one-millionth of a gram, an invisible particle, is a carcinogenic dose. One pound, if uniformly distributed, could hypothetically induce lung cancer in every person on Earth."NASA intends to load 73 pounds of plutonium on what it calls its Cassini mission to explore Saturn. There are two key periods of extreme danger regarding this mission:
1) The Cassini probe is to be launched in October 1997 on a Titan IV rocket - the same type of rocket that exploded over the Pacific Ocean on August 2, 1993 destroying its secret payload, a $2 billion spy satellite system. If the Titan IV rocket explodes, on the launch pad or in the atmosphere during the Cassini launch, it will not just be pieces of metal and plastic that are scattered for miles. This time it could be lethal plutonium spread far and wide from this 'Chernobyl' of a space probe.
2) If there is no mishap during the launch, the Cassini probe will be sent off into space once the Titan IV achieves orbit. Because Cassini's propulsion source does not have the power to send it straight to Saturn, NASA plans to send it to Venus first, and then, after two swings around Venus, have Cassini and its 73 pounds of plutonium hurtle right back towards Earth. The idea is to use the Earth's gravity to increase Cassini's velocity so it can pass by Jupiter and then go to Saturn. Cassini is to pass just 320 miles above Earth in what NASA calls a "slingshot maneuver" and "flyby." But, too deep a descent could cause Cassini to disintegrate in the Earth's 75-mile high atmosphere. Then, according to City University of New York nuclear physics professor, Dr. Michio Kaku, the plutonium - "the most toxic chemical known to science" - would "shower down with a tremendous tragedy for the people of the Earth."
Dr. Kaku and others say the needed electricity for the mission could be obtained through solar energy gathered by photovoltaic panels on Cassini and, when the sun is too distant, from long-lived fuel cells. But NASA, the Department of Energy and the nuclear laboratories and corporations insist on using Plutonium.
Since the 1960s, the U. S. has launched 24 devices carrying nuclear materials into space. Three have met with accidents. Other non-nuclear launches have resulted in accidents as well, such as the disastrous Challenger accident. The Cassini probe will be carrying the largest amount of plutonium ever sent intc space. This plutonium-laden launch must be stopped.
To help stop this launch, contact Baltimore Peace Network c/o Baltimore Jobs With Peace, 100 S. WashingtOm St., Baltimore, MD 21231 Phone (410) 342-7404.
CANCEL CASSINI: No Plutonium in Space
We, the undersigned, call upon NASA, our elected officials
and representative of the nuclear laboratories and corporations
to suspend plans to launch the Cassini space probe to Saturn
as long as plutonium is scheduled to be on board. Presently,
the project calls for 73 pounds of plutonium 238 to generate
on-board electricity. The risk of an accident is not worth
the gamble. We urge the use of alternative power sources
such as solar energy and long-life fuel cells for all
deep space missions.
Please print:
Name: Address: Zip Code: Phone:
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Send five names to Baltimore Peace Network, 4806 York Road,
Baltimore, MD 21212 (410) 323-7200 FAX 323-7292
8th Day Center for Justice 205 W. Monroe Chicago IL 60606-5033 (312) 641-5151 FAX: (312) 641-1250
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