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Article: Cosmos 1402's uranium remains. (measurements of radioactive dust in upper atmosphere from reentry of Soviet satellite)
- Article from:
- Science News
- Article date:
- October 31, 1987
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1987 Science Service, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Cosmos 1402's uranium remains
When a Soviet satellite called Cosmos 1402 was launched into orbit around the earth on Aug. 30, 1982, it carried a nuclear reactor containing up to 50 kilograms of uranium-235. After the satellite had finished its job, the reactor--used to power an ocean-reconnaissance radar system-- was supposed to be separated from it and boosted to a higher orbit, where its radioactive core would presumably stay aloft for centuries. However, a malfunction prevented the orbit from being raised, and on Feb. 7, 1983, the reactor reentered the atmosphere.
But what happened to it then? The consensus was that the device had burned up from ...