Sir,
Thank you for your email (shown below). I'd love to see what your sources of information are on the dangers of plutonium. Certainly not the research of Dr. John W. Gofman, or the late Dr. Karl Z. Morgan, or other great scientists. I wonder. DOE research, probably, or NASA's. Real biased stuff. What can you actually cite?
As for your comments about Dr. Friedman's "debate", you can read it yourself, and if you can find Dr. Friedman's actual technical responses which prove his case in amongst his comments, do point them out to me! There was a whole list of questions he never even tried to answer. CAN YOU ANSWER THEM FOR HIM? I'll be delighted to see you try. You say you can. Let's see you put your money where your mouth is. Let's see you back up your claims with proof of your knowledge. (You could try taking the Cassini Quiz, but no peaking at other's answers (not that those answers will be of any help, anyway.) I mean, if you think you have the answers, I'll listen. But they aren't contained in your letter -- just claims that you've studied the matter fairly. Let's see the proof. I've interviewed many dozens of scientists in order to formulate my opinion. I've named them. I've listed their evidence, published their statements -- all the stuff one would need to formulate a balanced opinion, I've tried to do. Including reading your letter! But what does it tell me? Nothing!
And as for your crap about me dispersing something more dangerous than radiation, well, dream on.
Again, thank you for your email. I believe we've met at a pro-space function a few years ago, right? I support space exploration wholeheartedly, but it must be done safely -- and with no hidden military agendas!
Sincerely,
Russell Hoffman
At 02:37 PM 10/19/00 -0400, you wrote:
Mr. Hoffman,
You mentioned that the people who support the Pluto-Kupier Express (PKE) mission and other missions like Cassini, that carries nuclear fuel, would only do so because they are unaware of the supposed dangers from radioactive dispersal of the nuclear elements if there should be a launch mishap. I have to disagree with you on this point. I am very aware of the effects of radioactive materials and yet I still support these missions of exploration to the outer planets of our solar system.
There are many people such as myself who look very carefully at the situation and have come to conclusions diametrically opposed to yours since we know that what you are dispersing to the public is a lot more harmful than the radiation dispersal would be, if it ever occurred. You said that Dr. Louis Friedman of the Planetary Society only pretended to debate you on these issues prior to the launch of Cassini. In fact, this is just the way you react to anyone who does not happen to agree with your analysis. Others have taken a more objective point of view based on reality, not just what they want to be true.
I support your right to speak out against things you believe are bad for the environment, but please make sure that you listen and understand both sides of the debate yourself. If you choose to keep your head in the sand while the rest of us are reaching for the stars, then so be it.
Thank you for your time,
Larry Evans
President, Orange County Space Society
rhoffman@animatedsoftware.com