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From: crb7q@kelvin.seas.Virginia.EDU (Cameron Randale Bass)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Ion Engines
Summary: pervasive anti-nuclear mindset
Message-ID: <1991Apr4.192805.29705@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>
Date: 4 Apr 91 19:28:05 GMT
References: <1991Mar22.043009.5544@zoo <1991Mar25.184907.16454@zoo.toronto.edu> <16851@chopin.udel.edu>
Sender: usenet@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU
Organization: University of Virginia
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In article <16851@chopin.udel.edu> garrett@chopin.udel.edu (Joel Garrett) writes:
>the whole point behind SDI was to keep us  from getting irradiated in a
>nuclear attack (maybe less radiated is a more realistic objective, but that's
>another story...)  If we have launchers that are going to spread radiation on
>launch of equipment to  stop a nuclear attack, then is this an improvement?

    The whole point of SDI is to protect against the explosion of 
    ballistic missile warheads.  The fact that radioactive materials are
    used to create the explosion is nearly a moot point.  Many more
    people would die as the result of blast effects (and heat, fires ...) 
    than would die of radiation sickness.  Spreading radioactive substances
    an incredibly inefficient way of killing people.

    In any case, the spread of radioactive substances must be weighed
    against the amount of radioactivity generated.  Face it, you spread
    radioactive substances with each bowel movement.  We do not suggest
    shooting you because of this foul crime because we retain a sense
    of proportion.  It would be nice if every time someone heard 
    'nuclear' or 'radioactivity', they would try to retain this same
    sense of proportion.

    Not holding my breath.

                            dale bass



--
C. R. Bass                                           crb7q@virginia.edu
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia                            (804) 924-7926