The Planet Waves Cassini Index On Aug. 17, 1999, the Earth will be visited by a cosmic voyager - made right here in the USA. Called the Cassini Space Probe, this is a rocket-science masterpiece carrying a load of 72 pounds of plutonium dioxide batteries, on course to skim past the Earth at a speed of 42,000 miles per hour enroute to Saturn. The probe was launched in 1997, and is being shot past Venus and the Earth for "gravity assist boosts" to increase its speed without using additional fuel.
The risk of Cassini's Earth flyby is the potential that the probe could re-enter the atmosphere, where it would burn up and distribute plutonium throughout the globe. Plutonium is extremely toxic, indeed, an instant carcinogen, and Cassini's 72 pounds of the stuff, evenly distributed, is enough to give 32 billion people cancer. Cassini is one of about 13 similar nuclar-powered space missions currently in the works. The question, as we see it, is this: Is this a fair wager for some additional knowledge of the solar system?
The intent of the Cassini Index is to make available social and scientific views on Cassini, and the closely related nuclear space program. This is an information exchange; we welcome your feedback, insights and suggestions.
If you discover additional Cassini links, please send them to us with a brief description at this address, and please spread the word about this index. Its direct URL is:
http://www.PlanetWaves.net/CassiniIndex.html |Back to Planet Waves Contents| Editorial Policy Statement - we obviously can't take responsibility for what's on other peoples' web sites. Our selections emphasize resources which are environmentally-oriented and dedicated to peaceful ends. Astrologically, we've made no predictions whatsoever that the Cassini mission will fail, only the statement that it is dangerous, scary, and that the press may run off with the story in what we feel are irresponsible ways. We have faith that the NASA boys can handle their technology, this time around. But we're very concerned about the idea of plutonium in space, the nuclear arming of space, and the mindless worship of technology. Our views are best summarized by Prof. Karl Grossman's Statement at the United Nations. For my latest take on the Aug. 11 Total Solar Eclipse, check out One Way or Another. Having said this, happy surfing, and please tell us what you discover.
News from NASA: The exact time of the Earth flyby has been announced. This is scheduled to occur Aug. 17, 1999 at 8:28 p.m. PDT. Mission control is in Pasadena, Ca. Links
The Official NASA Cassini Homepage (note -- this is a very sexy advertisement, with important basic information about the mission, not including what they don't mention. For that, keep reading...) Karl Grossman's Statement at the United Nations No Fly-By posted at www.NonViolence.org Global Network Against Nukes in Space
Disingenuous Digest - an analysis of news media handling of Cassini Animated Software for additional resources Nukes in Space for two videos on Cassini
Planet Waves Publications on Cassini and the Eclipse, by Eric Francis One Way or Another In & Out of Time Cassini Cometh Thinking of You on Judgment Day A Clue from California Interpretation Keys for the Total Solar Eclipse The Chart for the Aug 11 1999 Eclipse
"In the next two decades, new technologies will allow the fielding of space-based weapons of devastating effectiveness to be used to deliver energy and mass as force projection in tactical and strategic conflict. These advances will enable lasers with reasonable mass and cost to effect very many kills." --from New World Vistas, by the US Air Force <> "It's politically sensitive, but it's going to happen. Some people don't want to hear this, and it sure isn't in vogue, but -- absolutely -- we're going to fight in space. We're going to fight from space and we're going to fight into spaceThat's why the U.S. has development programs in directed energy and hit-to-kill mechanisms." --Gen. Joseph Ashy, of the U.S. Space Command <>
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