Estimates of ground-level mercury vapor concentrations from postulated launch-pad accidents of NASA space transportation systemsNASA has considered the use of mercury ion bombardment engines as extra-terrestrial propulsion systems where low thrust must be provided for long periods of time. However, the mercury fuel in these engines may pose a hazard if it is accidentally released to the troposphere. A description is presented of diffusion-model estimates of maximum 10-minute and 24-hour ground-level concentrations that could result from the accidental release of mercury from Titan/Centaur and Space Shuttle/Tug transportation systems. Three types of accidental release modes have been considered in the concentration calculations. For all three modes, the diffusion-model calculations were made for a variety of meteorological conditions in an effort to obtain estimates of the maximum credible concentrations under 'worst-case' conditions.
Document ID
19790043556
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Dumbauld, R. K. (Cramer (H.E.) Co., Inc. Salt Lake City, UT, United States)
Rafferty, J. E. (Cramer (H.E.) Co., Inc. Salt Lake City, UT, United States)
Saterlie, S. F. (H. E. Cramer Co., Inc. Salt Lake City, Utah, United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1978
Subject Category
Environment Pollution
Meeting Information
Meeting: Conference on Atmospheric Environment of Aerospace Systems and Applied Meteorology