Safety of the Launch

NASA has for 40 years used RTG or radioisotope Thermoelectirc generators in their spacecraft. The Plutonium dioxide fuel is contained in a fire resistant ceraminc in pellets to reduce the spread of fuel in small pieces. If the ceramic does fracture, it will do so in larger pieces or chuncks that would be easier to recover. Then protective layers of iridum capsule amd high-strength grahite blocks contain the fuel reducing the spread of plutonium dioxide.

Needless to say, I believe even if an accident did occur the plutonium whould be self-contained and easy to recover with little damage to living organisms. We would not have a disaster such as Chernobyl.

The launch had drawn protests from anti-nuclear activists because the spacecraft will be powered by 24 pounds of plutonium, which will produce energy from natural radioactive decay.

NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy have put the probability of an early-launch accident that could release plutonium at 1 in 350. The agencies have brought in 16 mobile field teams that can detect radiation and 33 air samplers and monitors.

"Just as we have ambulances at football games, you don't expect to use them, but we have them there if we need them," NASA official Randy Scott said.

Saftey plans are at the Cape here.