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From: don@umd5.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: Deadly green canister?
Message-ID: <853@umd5.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 3-Feb-86 09:58:35 EST
Article-I.D.: umd5.853
Posted: Mon Feb  3 09:58:35 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 7-Feb-86 08:27:24 EST
References: <8632@ucla-cs.ARPA>
Distribution: net
Organization: U of Md, CSC, College Park, Md
Lines: 30

> 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

The speculation is that this canister is the possible container of a
plutonium power source for the Galileo mission. Won't kill you in
two seconds, but VERY DEADLY all the same.

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