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Well, just look at the kerfuffle over the Cassini RTG back in 1997: Reporter: "Could this probe fail on launch, re-enter the atmosphere, and explode, showering
by Wingman4l7 14y ago
Well, just look at the kerfuffle over the Cassini RTG back in 1997:
Reporter: "Could this probe fail on launch, re-enter the atmosphere, and explode, showering the U.S. with radioactive particles?"
Scientist: "Yes, but there's a one-in-a-million chance of that happening, and we have safeguards against that..."
Headline: "SPACE PROBE COULD EXPLODE AND SHOWER RADIATION EVERYWHERE!"
The key here is the "Yes, but..." -- if a reporter wants a sensational story, they'll find a way to get it, even if they have to play fast and loose with the truth to do it.
(Thanks for that Twitter account link -- I love NASA's sense of humor.)
- jlgreco 14y agoYeah, they really botched Cassini. However with the experiance they gained from that, and a healthy awareness that PR issues like that can happen in the first place, I think they could overcome any issues they might run into. The answer they gave was correct, and they were correct to not be concerned. They know RTGs are safe, but they forgot that the public doesn't know that. (and yeah, I love NASA's twitter accounts :D)
- sliverstorm 14y agoAn excellent summary of what you describe, in comic form http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1623 http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1623
- Wingman4l7 14y agoNicely done! I think he's done other comics that have a similar message. There is also a somewhat relevant xkcd, of course: http://xkcd.com/882/ http://xkcd.com/882/