Why go to Pluto?
Pluto is the only planet in our solar system not yet viewed close-up by a spacecraft and given its great distance and small size, study of the planet continues to challenge even the best instruments and skills of planetary astronomers. A mission to Pluto completes the initial reconnaissance of the planets in our solar system. Many of the key questions about Pluto and its large moon Charon can only be answered from the close-up vantage point of a spacecraft flying close to Pluto.
The icy Kuiper Belt Objects beyond Pluto's orbit may represent remnant bodies from which Earth's volatiles, such as water, may have come. If Earth's atmosphere formed from in-falling comets, exploring Pluto and the Kuiper Belt may guide us in the search for our chemical origins.
The National Research Council designed the flyby reconnaissance of Pluto-Charon and the Kuiper Belt as the highest priority new start for a medium-sized mission of scope like New Horizons.
What is the probability that a launch area accident would release plutonium?
The analyses show that the probability of a launch area accident with a release of plutonium is about 1 in 350. The risk to the public and workers is low because the most likely launch area accidents involve small releases of plutonium dioxide that lead to either no exposure or exposure to very low radiation doses to individuals (significantly less than the doses due to natural background radiation). At exposures this small, no additional cancer fatalities in the launch area would be expected.
To what are the launch area risks comparable?
Everyone has constant exposure to natural background radiation that comes from outer space, from the earth, and from our own bodies. In the event of the most likely launch area accidents with a release of plutonium dioxide, the average maximum individual dose over a 50-year period would be less than the dose from natural background radiation in one year. (Most of the exposed population would receive much smaller doses.)
In the event of one of the more severe (but less likely) accidents with a release of plutonium dioxide, the average maximum individual dose over a 50-year period would be less than the dose from natural background radiation over the same 50-year period. (Most of the exposed population would receive much smaller doses.)
What is the worst-case accident for New Horizons?
The Department of Energy carefully examined a range of launch area accidents that vary in probability and severity. The most likely accidents would involve a problem with the launch vehicle that results in the activation of a safety system that destructs the vehicle in flight. More severe accidents would involve not only a launch vehicle problem but also a safety destruct system failure.
The most likely launch area accidents with a release of plutonium dioxide have about a 1 in 350 probability of occurring. These accidents would not be expected to result in any additional cancer fatalities.
The more severe accidents with a release have a probability of about 1 in 100,000 to 1 in 1 million, and could potentially result in about 10 to 30 additional cancer fatalities in the launch area population over 50 years.
What would NASA do if there were an accident?
Although a launch accident is unlikely and one that releases any radioactive material even more unlikely, prudence dictates that we must be prepared for any eventuality, so we will have trained teams standing by to respond. NASA and the Air Force, with Department of Energy support, and in coordination with state and local agencies, would immediately begin to assess the accident using pre-positioned detectors, predictive models, and pre-deployed field teams to sample for and pinpoint the location and movement of any released radioactive material.
Based on prelaunch consultations and the results of realistic exercises with state and local agencies, directions would be given to on-site personnel and the public as to any actions they would need to take, depending on the type of accident. Local residents would be asked to turn on their radios or televisions to designated stations for further information on any possible protective actions.
What should people do if there is an accident?
People should turn on their radios or TVs and follow the instructions that are given. Up-to-date information on the monitoring and emergency response will be provided to the news media and public via established public information channels. People can also call 211 in Brevard County or 321-631-9155 from a cell phone or outside Brevard County for the latest information. In the unlikely event of an accident, the response actions described by the NASA radiological contingency response plan prepared for the mission would be cooperatively executed by Federal, state and county authorities, including the telephone contact and instructions to households in potentially affected areas.
If there is a launch accident and radioactive material is released, who is responsible for letting the public know what to do?
NASA, as the Federal Coordinating Agency, is responsible for coordinating any emergency response to a launch accident and for informing the media and making recommendations to the local and state government representatives regarding any protective actions that should be communicated to the public. NASA, in coordination with other Federal agencies, the state of Florida, and county organizations, developed a comprehensive radiological contingency plan for the New Horizons mission prior to the mission launch in accordance with the National Response Plan (NRP) and the NRP Radiological Incident Annex. Cooperating agencies working to inform and protect the public in such an event would include other federal agencies, the state of Florida as well as local city and county emergency response organizations. Plans will be thoroughly tested prior to launch.
A Radiological Control Center at the launch site will coordinate any emergency actions required during the pre-launch countdown or the early phases of the mission. In the event of an accident, a nearby offsite location would be established to conduct monitoring and surveillance in areas outside the launch site, assess the accumulated data, and coordinate further actions through the Radiological Control Center.
How soon after an accident will you know if there is a release of plutonium?
Radiation detectors will give us readings between a half hour and a few hours after the small releases that might occur. These extremely sensitive, calibrated radiation detectors have been placed by NASA and the Air Force in cooperation with the Department of Energy and state and local authorities in various locations around the launch area. The media and public will be immediately informed about any release as soon as the information is known.
What precautions will be taken in the local area to guard against harm to residents in case of an accident releasing radioactive material?
To begin, NASA is taking every precaution to ensure a successful launch to Pluto. Public safety is our first priority, so NASA developed and is exercising a comprehensive multi-agency radiological contingency plan for the New Horizons mission before launch in accordance with the National Response Plan. This plan, which is based on the plans for previous space nuclear launches, will ensure that any accident with a possible impact downrange of the launch site, whether it involves a radiological release or not, can be met with a well-developed and tested response involving Federal, state and local officials.
Would property owners be compensated if their land were contaminated in a mishap?
Yes. In the unlikely event that an accident occurred and radioactive material released, property owners would be eligible for reimbursement under the Price-Anderson Act for loss of property due to contamination. Congress enacted the Price-Anderson Act as an amendment to the Atomic Energy Act to provide a system of financial protection for persons who may be injured by and persons who may be liable for a nuclear incident. Under Price-Anderson the government would guarantee collective liability payment up to the amount of $10 billion.
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