(320.3214) WISE Amsterdam - The Foundation on Economic Trends, Christic Institute and the Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice, fearing widespread radiation contamination in the event of a launch disaster, had taken their case to federal court the week before in an attempt to halt the launch. The groups said the US government suppressed vital safety data and did not address alternatives such as using an unmanned rocket to fire the Galileo probe to Jupiter. They also charged that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) underestimated the odds of an accident, saying that thousands of area residents could be threatened by widespread radioactive contamination in the event of a launch disaster.
The presiding judge, however, determined that "NASA has complied satisfactorily" with the US Environmental Policy Act which governs the launch of nuclear payloads. He also said that cancelling the flight "will cost $164 million just to maintain the Galileo program" because Jupiter and Earth will not be properly aligned again until 1991 and that "the public interest weighs heavily against granting" a delay. Furthermore, he said, "The Galileo mission is an important part of NASA's solar system exploration program and will greatly increase our country's knowledge of space".
According to an article by Rosalind Corman ("Disney World Does Not Need a Plutoniumland"), the threat of contamination of the Earth will go on until after the second flyby in December 1992, when the space probe will pass within 360 km of the Earth at a speed of 48,000 km/hr. Corman's article is part of a packet of information pulled together by the office of Jim Fulton, New Democratic Party MP to the Canadian Parliament. That information makes clear that, among other things, the use of nuclear power in space provides a nice market for the General Electric Corporation (GE), whose commercial nuclear reactor business has been suffering from lack of orders.
But there is much more to the Galileo project than GE's profits and scientific research. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a major NASA contractor, writes in one of their publications that the Galileo project will "contribute significantly to our defence capability, particularly in the areas of communication, navigation and radiation tolerance". Further, in the 1990's the launching of substantial amounts of military nuclear devices into space are planned. (Toronto Globe and Mail, 11 Oct. 1989; included in the information package available from Jim Fulton's office, details below).
The Galileo project raised a public debate in Canada, including discussion in parliament. Fulton wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister of Canada stating: "Because the Jovian probe itself has not been sterilized to eradicate earth-bred micro-organisms, these tiny life forms will be introduced into the Jupiter environment. In addition, the Jupiter destined nuclear power pack could spread radioactive materials in that environment as well." These last two points seem to clearly violate Article IX of the treaty signed by both Canada and the United States, as well as other nations in 1967. Article IX of the treaty, entitled 'Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and other Celestial Bodies', states that space exploration will be carried out in a manner that will avoid harmful contamination of the moon and other celestial bodies.
Sources:
- Corman, Rosalind "Disney World does not need a plutoniumland"
- Fulton MP, Jim, 12 Oct. 1989, "Open Letter To Prime Minister Brian Muironey: The Galileo Project, Violation of 1967 Space Treaty", 2 pp.
- Greenpeace, (via Greennet, 29 Sept., 7, 11, 12 Oct. 1989
- CNN Network News, 12 Oct., 1989
Contact: Fulton's letter together with 15 pages of background information, including a critical statement in the Canadian House of Commons ("Commons Debates", 12 Oct. 1989, p.4597), news clippings, the 3-page report by Rosalind Corman, and the test of the 1967 space treaty are available from: David Garrick, c/o Jim Fulton MP, 754 Confederation Bldg., House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A OA6, tel: 1- 613-995 0168.
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