Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watdragon!watyew!jdnicoll
From: jdnicoll@watyew.waterloo.edu (Brian or James)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: booster pollution
Message-ID: <19846@watdragon.waterloo.edu>
Date: 16 Jan 90 17:10:15 GMT
References: <15378@boulder.Colorado.EDU> <1990Jan6.060300.13029@utzoo.uucp> <1990Jan15.164939.29641@utzoo.uucp>
Sender: daemon@watdragon.waterloo.edu
Lines: 20


 As well as the chlorine problem, I remember some concern about possible
side effects of NOx compounds produced by the boosters. I understand that
the exhaust of a (for example) hydrogen-oxygen fueled booster would be
primarily H2O, but would there be significant amounts of other compounds
produced, either from incomplete combustion of the fuel, or from chemical
reations caused by the admittedly transient presence of the several thousand
degree exhaust? Again, from my rather dim memory, I recall that there were
reports of large, temporary holes forming in the ozone layer. Since I
that Orion was designed in (Pre-atmospheric test ban), these extra cancer
deaths were felt to be acceptable (and probably difficult, if not flat
m possible to detect against the normal cancer death rate.). Maybe
France can use Orion:) . SF authors use nuclear drives in atmosphers with
cheerful abandon. I recall reading one were the viewpoint character says
something like "OK, we're over the 'burbs. Switch to photon drive." I
suspect the author has -no- idea just how much energy the 'thinly
populated' suburbs were about to receive. (As yet another aside,
would there have been any EMP side effects from Orion?)
							James Nicoll