FALLOUT OF Pu-238 OVER MADAGASCAR FOLLOWING THE SNAP 9A SATELLITE FAILURE

摘要

In 1964, a SNAP 9A satellite fuelled by radiothermic generator (RTG) failed to achieve orbit, re-entered the upper atmosphere over Madagascar and burned up. Its RTG released its full ~(238)Pu contents. It was not designed to survive re-entry. The SNAP-9A RTG dispersed plutonium worldwide, nearly tripling the amount of that isotope which became detectable globally in the environment.