Written question asked by Jim Fitzpatrick (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 March 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 31 March 1999. It was answered by John Battle (Labour) on Wednesday, 31 March 1999 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations have been made by the British Government to the Government of the United States about the environment risks of NASA's Cassini space probe; and when such representations were made.

Answer: Mr. Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been made by the British Government to the Government of the United States about the environment risks of NASA's Cassini space probe; and when such representations were made. [77933] Mr. Battle: The BNSC has examined the two independent environmental impact statements commissioned by NASA prior to the launch of the Cassini-Huygens mission. Both of these endorsed the use of plutonium on the mission. In addition, under US law, NSA has a duty to minimise the risks associated with its work, as well as a responsibility to conform to the United Nations Principles on the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space (1992), an initiative in which the UK took a leading role.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 77933; 328 c820W
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: Environment protection Environmental impact assessment Safety USA Plutonium Spacecraft Space technology Cassini mission