Xref: utzoo sci.space:4459 sci.space.shuttle:503
Path: utzoo!linus!gatech!bloom-beacon!athena.mit.edu!kit
From: kit@athena.mit.edu (Chris D. Peterson)
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Payload of shuttle flight directly after last Challenger.
Message-ID: <2728@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU>
Date: 2 Feb 88 15:28:21 GMT
References: <347@flatline.UUCP>
Sender: daemon@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU
Reply-To: kit@athena.mit.edu (Chris D. Peterson)
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Lines: 15

I am by no means an expert on the subject, but here is a bit of information 
on the subject,  There are nuclear "reactors" in space.  In fact the upcomming
Galileo mission to Jupiter uses nuclear fission for its power systems.  There
is a good reason for this, as solar energy near Jupiter is pretty weak, and
nothing else comes near the weight requirements for such a long mission.

The fact is that when you are dealing with new things and new technology
there is always some risk, it is a fact of life so live with it.  Nothing
in this world is free.

						
						                   
						Chris Peterson     
						Project Athena     
						Systems Development