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From: mike@amdcad.UUCP (Mike Parker)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: Deadly green canister?
Message-ID: <9054@amdcad.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 1-Feb-86 18:20:44 EST
Article-I.D.: amdcad.9054
Posted: Sat Feb  1 18:20:44 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 2-Feb-86 02:49:20 EST
References: <8632@ucla-cs.ARPA>
Reply-To: mike@amdcad.UUCP (Mike Parker)
Distribution: net
Organization: AMD, Sunnyvale, California
Lines: 41

In article <8632@ucla-cs.ARPA> wales@ucla-cs.UUCP (Rich Wales) writes:
>
>	"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?
>-- 


Hmmm.. *Small* green canister...From The San Jose Mercury News,
Friday, Jan 31:
"In particular, officials of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration warned beachcombers about cylindrical green tanks
with hemispheric ends, 96 inches long and 49 inches in diameter.
....[ lots of verbiage deleted ]...
hypergolic fuel...used to power small maneuvering rockets...
In the hypergolic system, the fuel consists of a clear liquid
called monomethylhydrazine, a powerfully reactive substance that
can cause intense caustic burns on the skin and is also a poison
that particularly affects the liver.
Far more dangerous is the hypergolic system oxidizer, liquid nitrogen
tetroxide. Nitrogen tetroxide is so exotic a substance that is not
even listed in the Merck Index, a standard reference volume that
summarizes the properties and toxicity of thousands of compounds.
However, nitrogen tetroxide violently oxidizes almost any organic
substance it touches, including skin and all other human tissues.
The burns it causes are instantaneous and likely to be quickly
fatal........"

I know there are many knowledgeable chemists on the net, please
note the "" and send all flames to the Mercury.

Mike

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