GREENPEACE DIRECTORS APPEAL TO CLINTON TO POSTPONE CASSINI SPACE LAUNCH - URGE USE OF SOLAR TECHNOLOGY

Washington, USA 10 October 1997

The Directors of Greenpeace International and Greenpeace USA have appealed to President Clinton to postpone the launch of the Cassini space probe to Saturn until NASA can implement a solar-powered alternative. Greenpeace considers the Cassini probe a grave threat to global health and the environment.

Cassini, scheduled to be launched by NASA on Monday, October 13, carries 72 pounds of plutonium in devices that generate electricity. Dispersal of the plutonium in the event of a launch pad accident or disintegration in the atmosphere could pose a grave health risk. Minute particles of plutonium are carcinogenic if inhaled and atmospheric disintegration could lead to exposure of this deadly material to the global population.

In the letter sent on October 8, Thilo Bode, Greenpeace International Executive Director and Kristen Engberg, Acting Executive Director of Greenpeace USA, appealed to Clinton to display global leadership by reconsidering the impact of plutonium dispersal beyond the US borders. The two directors further urged Clinton to direct NASA to develop solar-powered cells to replace the Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs), which produce electricity based on the decay heat of the nuclear substance.

"A plutonium-fueled spacecraft not only creates a potential global hazard, but also sends the wrong signal regarding our energy and resource future," said the letter to President Clinton.

The European Space Agency (ESA), which produced the probe, stated in an 29-April-1994, news release that it "has recently developed high efficiency solar cells for use in future demanding deep-space missions." Further technological breakthroughs by the ESA, in the field of high efficiency solar cells, are expected in the next few years. In spite of the pending availability of this alternative technology, NASA has chosen to continue using the dangerous plutonium-based energy source. The ESA stated in the news release that, "Until now, deep space probes had to use thermonuclear power generators, like the so called RTGs (Radioisotope Thermal Generators).

As RTG's technology is not available in Europe, ESA therefore attempted to develop a power source based on very high-efficiency solar cells." It is hoped such solar cells will also have terrestrial applications. Solar power is considered an essential energy source for the next century, with current solar technology already in use around the world.

RTGs are produced at the Department of Energy's nuclear weapons facility at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM. Plutonium-238 in the past was produced in military reactor at DOE's Savannah River Plant, SC, by bombarding neptunium targets with neutrons in the reactor. Separation of plutonium-238 via reprocessing produces a large volume of dangerous high-level nuclear waste; waste which will present an environmental threat for thousands of years.

Greenpeace will oppose future use of plutonium on space launches and will continue to appeal for a halt to the use of this dangerous substance. Likewise, the organization will continue its active campaigning to halt the reprocessing and stockpiling of weapon-usable plutonium (plutonium-239) in France, Britain, Russia, Japan, and other countries.

For further information please contact:

Tom Clements, Greenpeace International Nuclear Campaign, + 1-202-319-2506

Andrew Davies, Greenpeace USA Media Department, + 1-202-319-2432

Note to editors:

European Space Agency news release is available on request

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