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Historical insights for the safe launch of radioactive materials

Wyss, Gregory D.; Polansky, Gary F.; Allahdadi, Firooz

The launch of nuclear materials requires special care to minimize the risk of adverse effects to human health and the environment. This paper describes the special sources of risk that are inherent to the launch of radioactive materials and provides insights into the analysis and control of these risks that have been gained through the experience of previous US launches. Historically, launch safety has been achieved by eliminating, to the greatest degree possible, the potential for energetic insults to affect the radioactive material. For those insults that cannot be precluded, designers minimize the likelihood, magnitude and duration of their interaction with the material. Finally, when a radioactive release cannot be precluded, designers limit the magnitude and spatial extent of its dispersal.