Thank god for small favors — at least when Bush finally flips his lid and the nukes start flying, we won’t be damaging our atmosphere…
In order to comply with EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) regulations, and at a cost of about $5.2 million per ICBM, the rocket motors on 500 Minuteman III missiles will be replaced with new ones. These rockets will emit less toxic chemicals when used. But the new, environmentally correct rockets will be heavier than the old ones, and will thus have a shorter range than the original motors. The actual range of the Minuteman III has been classified, but is thought to be nearly 10,000 kilometers, based on where the missiles are stationed and where the original Russian targets were. Thus, if the Minuteman III ICBMs have to be used in some future nuclear war, their rocket motors will not pollute the atmosphere. EPA regulations do not apply in foreign countries, so no changes are being made to reduce the harmful environmental effects of the nuclear warheads.
(via Boing Boing)
iTunes: “Killin’ Time (Hot Tracks)” by Cousins, Tina from the album Roadkill! 2.18 (1999, 6:29).
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So as long no one shoots back with non-EPA approved nukes, we can breathe better during nuclear war. Boy, I can sleep now better at night feeling a lot safer. Just as long the new shorter ranges can make the ICBMs still get outside the US. If not, then more money wasted and a double whammy.
P.S. As they say on talks shows, long time reader (well since the 15 Minutes of Fame), first time posting.
(laughs) Welcome, Christian!
they changed the fuel because one, the Rocket fuel does get old.. and then the missles are unreliable.. and 2nd.. it’s safer so that when the Minutement missles get retired, and they have to get rid of the fuel, the environmental impact will be much less.. Boy you liberals love to put a phoney twist on things.. no wonder you got fired.
Hellsbellboy, it’s still a NUCLEAR WEAPON, which means that if it’s launched at someplace and it explodes the last environmental problem we’re going to be worried about is the environmental impact of the exhaust, or whether the rocket fuel was too old. We’re going to be worried about things like nuclear fall-out, nuclear winters, and other highly unpleasant effects of nuclear war. Michael and the rest of us “liberals” are just noticing the irony in trying to make nuclear weapons environmentally safe. As to your last comment, it seems designed to upset people and is not really conductive to an adult discussion. Play nice if you want to be taken seriously.
Continuing the Discussion