U.S. plans radioactive project (Plutonium) -Original

NY Times ^ | 6/27/05

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

The Bush administration is planning the government's first production of plutonium 238 - a highly radioactive substance valued as a power source - since the Cold War, stirring debate over the risks and benefits of the deadly material. It is hot enough to melt plastic and so dangerous that a speck can cause cancer.

Federal officials say the program would produce a total of 330 pounds, or 150 kilograms, over 30 years at the Idaho National Laboratory, a sprawling site outside Idaho Falls some 100 miles, or 160 kilometers, to the west and upwind of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. The program could cost $1.5 billion and generate more than 50,000 drums of hazardous and radioactive waste.

Project managers say that most if not all of the new plutonium is intended for secret missions and declined to divulge any details.

"The real reason we're starting production is for national security," Timothy Frazier, head of radioisotope power systems at the Department of Energy, said at the end of a recent interview.

He vigorously denied that any of the classified missions would involve nuclear arms, satellites or weapons in space...

[Anti-Bubba182]

This will get the Dem's shorts in a bunch.

[popparollo]

The new cold war is beginning with China.

[Southack]

Thank God that *someone* will do what it takes to protect the U.S., even if it is politically incorrect!

[popparollo]

Bush needs to take a stand against the purchase of any US companies by state owned companies in China.

[HangnJudge]

Wonderful source for power in space
used in Galileo probe which had 49.25 pounds of Pu-238 as a primary power source. It is used as a heat source in radiothermal generators to produce electricity for unmanned spacecraft and interplanetary probes.
88 year half life
17 Ci/g mostly alpha

Great stuff

[SamAdams76]

Can't this stuff be produced cheaper in China or India?

[Southack]

"Bush needs to take a stand against the purchase of any US companies by state owned companies in China."

Nonsense. Let the Chinese purchase the few dead and dying of U.S. firms all day long. Many a money-losing firm should open their doors to the PLA.

[Skip1]

This will get the Dem's shorts in a bunch.


Remember Comrade Kerry during the Presidential debates unilaterally given up bunker nukes if he became President. I bet you he would have had a summit with the N. Korean leader by now & the French would be running Iraq. Also, I watched a rerun of Senate hearing on Iraq.Hilary was drilling Rumsfeld on the Rove Liberal rather litigate then fight terrorists comment Must of hit a real sore spot. I guess the truth hurts.

[popparollo]

Yes, Will be an additional possible power source for future exploration missions and Bases in Space.

[Husker24]

It is hot enough to melt plastic

I can do that with a bic.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Maybe we will one day trade it for oil.

[popparollo]

Any sale of a company that can endanger the National Security of the US should not be allowed to come to fruition.

[HangnJudge]

Tough to make safely

Primarily produced through neutron capture reaction of
Neptunium-237, which is breed up from other sources

Oak Ridge looked into restarting this process several years ago

[Southack]

"Any sale of a company that can endanger the National Security of the US should not be allowed to come to fruition."

That's a pretty small group. Out of several million American companies, only a handful do anything meaningful for national security.

[popparollo]

Unocal is one of those companies.

[Southack]

This is not a thread about Unocal.

[Soul Seeker]

Cool.

I guess this means the "No Blood for Oil" crowd can go back to their sentimental favorite. No Nukes!

It'll be fun to at least have a different slogan (or so old it is new) to shoot down. The other one has long since run its coarse.

[Squantos]

Bump to the top.........:o)

[Pharmboy]

I think this also sends the muzzies a message: "Mecca is glass if you REALLY want to play..."