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From: wales@ucla-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Deadly green canister?
Message-ID: <8632@ucla-cs.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 31-Jan-86 13:10:06 EST
Article-I.D.: ucla-cs.8632
Posted: Fri Jan 31 13:10:06 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Feb-86 21:42:01 EST
Reply-To: wales@ucla-cs.UUCP (Rich Wales)
Distribution: net
Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department
Lines: 19

Recent news reports about the search for debris from the Challenger
tragedy have included warnings from NASA that private beachcombers
should not handle material from the shuttle because it might contain
toxic materials.  To quote a portion of an article in the January 30
Los Angeles Times (p. 10, col. 3):

	"There were several things aboard the Challenger that
	potentially could be deadly," one member of the search
	team said.  "We're especially concerned about a small
	green canister," a Coast Guard chief petty officer
	added.  "You'd be dead in two seconds if you touched it."

What kinds of toxic substances are involved here?  Specifically, what's
in the aforementioned green canister, and why was it on the shuttle?
-- 
Rich Wales // UCLA Computer Science Department // +1 213-825-5683
	3531 Boelter Hall // Los Angeles, California 90024 // USA
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