Apparently our early space probes such as voyager and pioneer have plutonium cores for power. Since this is 33000 times more deadly than uranium and the worst poison ever discovered would it be interpreted as an act of war by aliens who could be like us (or not)
2006-09-15 08:56:09 · 4 answers · asked by bolters37 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Not likely. The plutonium in the generators isn't terribly powerful, and the generators are shielded to resist atmospheric reentry and ground impact. And as if that wasn't enough, the material would make a horrible nuclear device. Plutonium-238, the predominant material in the generators, will easily undergo spontaneous fission, meaning any bomb made from the material will sputter when triggered.
As a side note, the generators are not nuclear reactors in the traditional sense. They work by using the heat from the material's nuclear decay to generate electricity for the probe's electronics.
2006-09-15 09:52:49 · answer #1 · answered by Joseph Q 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any race that was able to distinguish it as plutonium would doubtless know, as well as warhead material, it also is a useful power source.
Any race that didn't would probably worship it and then panic as their new god punishes them for reasons unkown by striking them down with hair loss, blood disorders and cancers
:¬)
2006-09-15 09:14:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Presumably anyone able to detect or find a spaceprobe is bright enough to infer its peaceful purpose.
To bad all plutonium isn't used for space batteries!
2006-09-15 08:58:29 · answer #3 · answered by aka DarthDad 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Watch the first Star trek film from the original series you'll love it.
2006-09-15 08:58:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋