'Brief radiation spike' after rocket engine blast in northern Russia

bbc.com

25 points·theklub··6 comments

I wonder if they had a problem with the nuclear powered cruise missile they are developing[0]. It's interesting that they are recommending taking iodine pills though, because that might imply a release of radioactive iodine, a fission product.

[0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9M730_Burevestnik

That was my first thought as well. On a slight tangent, I recently learned of the USA's Project Pluto.[0] A 1957 fusion engine which I believe is along the same lines as the new Russian project. It was to power the SLAM.[1]

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Pluto

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersonic_Low_Altitude_Missil...

"The Big Stick with Pluto engine" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVmpAD7WRxA

> fusion engine

Project Pluto / SLAM was to be fission powered. The payload was thermonuclear though, as with typical ballistic missiles.

I wonder if this spike could be explained by dispersal of depleted uranium commonly used in bullets and other kinetic weapons for its high density. The article is very light on detail though, it's not clear whether this was an engine on a test stand, or a launch test.

Depleted-uranium rounds have (by definition) extremely low radioactive decay rates and are incapable of nuclear fission on their own (most of the opposition to their use stems from uranium being a toxic metal if ingested by living things). For something to release radiation, it needs to be a nuclear fuel. That's quite interesting/worrying.

"They advise everyone to close their windows and drink iodine, 44 drops per glass of water.

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