REENTRY AND DISPOSAL PHENOMENA FOR NUCLEAR AUXILIARY POWER SYSTEMS.

Abstract

This study examines the several phenomena associated with the reentry from orbit of a satelliteborne nuclear power source and the subsequent dispersal of radioactive debris. The obvious hazards to the civilian population in the dispersal areas motivated this study. The immediate purposes of the present study were to establish the possibility that reentry through the atmosphere would cause the nuclear fuel elements to incinerate and thereby to be rendered innocuous. Although a large volume of data in many parameters has been derived from this study, no definitive conclusions can be made, but it is generally indicated that incineration alone is not a sufficient guarantee that the hazards of radioactive fuel deposition on earth have been eliminated. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1963
Accession Number
AD0424400

Entities

Organizations

  • General Dynamics

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Atmospheres
  • Civilian Population
  • Fissile Materials
  • Fissionable Materials
  • Guarantees
  • Nuclear Fuels

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Environmental Engineering.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris