ML20155G114
| ML20155G114 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/26/1988 |
| From: | Jordan E NRC OFFICE FOR ANALYSIS & EVALUATION OF OPERATIONAL DATA (AEOD) |
| To: | Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20155G117 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-88-501, FOIA-88-517 NUDOCS 8810140084 | |
| Download: ML20155G114 (3) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION t
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WASHINGTON. O. C. 20555 1-
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SEP 2 7 900 I
MEMORANDUM FOR:
V. Stello, EDO J. Taylor, OEDO T. Murley, NRR H. Thompson, NMSS E. Beckjord, RES W. Russell, RI J. Grace, RII B. Davis, RIII R. Martin, RIV J. Martin, RV FROM:
Edward L. Jordan, Director Office for Acalysis and Evaluatico of Operatioeal Data
SUBJECT:
COSMOS 1900 The enclosed Communication on COSMOS 1900 was received today via E-mail and is being forwarded to you for your information.
Predications for the date and time of reentry are still not firm, but more specific estimates will be provided to you when available.
fD o
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..om N
1 Edward L. J rdan, Director Office for Analysis and Evaluation l
of Operational Data
Enclosure:
l Communication on COSMOS 1900 l
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To:
NRC (REG 001)
From:
IAEA (REG 028)
Delivered:
Tue 27-Sep-88 10:21 EDT Sys 164 te subject:
Message to Ephraim Asculai c/o Joo Himes Mail Id IPM-164-880927-093291206 We received the following information from the Soviet contact point re. COSMOS 1900 (the info was transmitted through the Russian mission to the DG):
COMMUNICATION OF THE USSR STATE COMMITTEE ON THE UTILIZATION OF ATOMIC ENERGY:
On 12 December 1987, the satellite "Cosmos-1900" was placed in orbit tor the purpose of observing ocean surface. On board the satellito there is a small nuclear power unit of the reactor type.
In April 1988 raciocommunication with this satellite was interrupted.
Over the past five months since then, the main auxiliary systems on board the satellite - including the power supply system - have been f unctioning normally and it is continuing its guided flight, gradually descending. On 22 Sept 1988, the orbital parameters of Cosmos-1900 were apogee - 214 km and perigee - 193 km.
In accordance with the recommendations of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, the satellite Cosmos-1900 is equipped with a basic and a redundant system of radiation protection. The basic system is designed to deflect the nuclear power unit into a high (appr. 800 km) orbit, the i
residenco time in which (about 300 years) would ensure reduction of the radioactivity to a safe level. The redundant system, which is triggered in the ovent of failure of the main system, is designed to separate the coro from the body of the reactor during descent into the atmosphere and aerodynamic heating at an altitude of about 100 km. This separation of the core and its independent entry into the atmosphe"e guarantees its complete burnup in the dense layers of the atmosphere and dispersal of i
t5e fuel in such a way that it would not have any appreciable
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eftoct on radiation conditions in the region of fallout.
The design of the satellite provides for automatic switching-
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q ot the deflection system in the event of disruption of the
,idance system, sealing loss in the instrument section or
.alfunct;oning of the on-board power-supply system. In the sbsence of radiocommunication with the satellite, the switching-on could take place at any moment up to the triggering of the redundant radiation protection system.
At the present time, the situation of Cosmos-1900 cannot, in the opinion of Soviet exports, be character 1:ed as a nuclear accident within the meaning of Article 1 of the Convention on i
Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident of 26 Sept 1986.
Novartholoss, the Sov10t Union, in a spirit of good-kill and l
taking into account the concern expressed by a number of States, j
considurs it necessary to include the following information in the ornsent communication.
Enclosur i
Acco. ding to predictions, if there-is no earlier deflection of the nuclear-power unit, the satellite will, under stabili:ed flight conditions, reach an altitude of the order of 100 km in the perico 4-8 October. The core of the reactor consists of 37 cylindrical fuel eloTients with berv111um end reflectors. A uranium-molybdenum (3 weight per cent) alloy 90 % enriched in uranium 205 is used as i
nuclear fuel (total weight 31.1 kg). Towards mid-October 1988, the fission-product activity in the fuel due to long-lived i sotopes wi th half-lives of more than two days will amount to 40 000 curies, and the induced activity in the structural components of the reactor (mainly cobalt-58 and manganese-54) will be about 700 curies. Upon entry into the dense layer: of the atmosphere and triogering of the redundant system, the reactor core will break up into finely divioed particles 60 to 880 microns in si:e which are not soluble in natural media and will not enter food chains.
The level of exposure of the population at peak fallout will then not exceed 0.5 rem per annum.
The reactor has a beryllium side reflector including six cylindrical rods of mass 3.6 kg each and dimensions 100 mm and 250 mm, the activity of which will be insignificant (50 milli-curies). If they should reach the earth's surface, there would be no direct danger to the population. However, if the rods are found, they should be removed. Should the remaining parts of the satellite reach the earth's surface, they will constitute no radiation ha:ard.
At the morant, with Cosmos-1900 still continuing in guided flight, it it very difficult to predict accurately the time and place of its entry into the dense layers of the atmosphere. The competent servtces in the Soviet Union are continuing to keep the catellate under careful observation and ar7 making the appropriate calculations. Additional information will be communi cat 11 is it becutes available.
The boviet Union confirms its steadfast intention of complying strictly with its obligations under the Conventions of 26 Sept 1986 on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, and also the correspononng bilateral agreements and recommenoations et the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
i The Director General of the IAEA is requested to circulate this l
communication to the States Members of the Agency.
Dent regards. i!'11 send the GTS note in another message).
Marja l
Disposittent
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION t
WASHINGTON. D. C. 20$55 W
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September 26, 1988 MEMORANDUM FOR:
William T. Russell, Regional Administrator, Region I J. Nelson Grace, Regional Administrator, Region II A. Bert Davis, Regional Administrator, Region III Robert 0
'rtin, Regional Administrator, Region IV John B.
... tin, Regional Administrator, Region V FROM:
Edward L. Jordan, Director Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data
SUBJECT:
POSSIBLE NRC REGIONAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE REENTRY OF COSMOS 1900 COSMOS 1900, a nuclear reactor powered Soviet satellite, is expected to reenter the earth's atmosphere in early October.
Although it is expected that the reactor will separate from the satellite prior to reentry 'and completely burn-up in the the upper atmosphere, there is a small probability that debris from the reactor could reach the earth's surface.
Under the direction of the National Security Council, the Federal agencies, along with State representatives, have been developing plans for how the government would respond if radioactive debris landed in the United States.
Copies of the procedures to supplement the Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan (FRERP) in such an event have been provided to your staff and are included as.
As provided in FRERP, 00E has the lead for the Federal radiological monitoring effort and establishing a Federal Radiological Mcnitoring and Assessment Center (FRMAC).
DOE has designated Terry Vaeth, Assistant Manager, of the San Francisco Operations Office (SAN) to be the FRMAC Director (formerly called OSTD) in the event a FRMAC is established in the U.S. SAN has been developing detailed plans for establishing a FRMAC.
These preliminary plans provide for field support from the NRC.
DOE is aware of NRC health physics capabilities and would like to utilize them, if necessary.
The E00 has agreed that NRC should provide support, if requested, in accordance with our responsibilities in the FRERP.
It is expected that most of the support that NRC would provide would be from the regional offices.
Consequently, this is to provide you with some general guidance in preparing for this unlikely, but important role. is the preliminary organization chart which SAN developed which shows how they envision NRC resources and personnel fitting into the FRMAC organization.
It is not expected that any special modifications be made to the regional mobile vans or that their use be restricted during the period when the reentry of COSMOS 1900 is predicted.
If your mobile van, however, is not available because of repairs, maintenance, or other reasons, please let this office know.
The only actions we would expect the regions to take would be to:
7
4.
m Regional Administrators 1.
Develop a list of the regional staff who have expertise in radiological field monitoring or analytical operations; 2.
Inform those individuels of the small potential for being assigned to the FRMAC; 3.
Assure that the regional mobile van is operational and ready to be deployed ithin a few hours of notification; 4.
Assure that during off-duty hours, the Regional Duty Officer can contact the above individuals and those who operate the regional mobile van; and 5.
Assure that regional field instruments have a current calibration and are operable.
In the event that COSMOS 1900 debris lands in the U.S., NRC/HQs will determine how and which regional offices will respond.
Most likely, the closest regional office will be requested to dispatch the Radiation Safety and Safeguards Branch Chief, along with the regional mobile van and appropriate laboratory and field monitoring staff, to the FRMAC.
Any additional NRC support will then be based on discussions with 00E, the NRC staff in the field and the Regional Administrators.
Because of the small probability of the event and the great uncertainty of what any of the debris will look like, physically and radiologically, there will be no detailed training offered to the potential responders until they arrive at the FRMAC.
Therefore it is important that the individuals selected be experienced and knowldgeable individuals who will be able to work effectively in such a situation.
i I
As this situation develops further, we will keep you and your staff informed, i
If NRC is called upon in this situation, I am confident that you and your staff l
can provide the support that is needed.
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E d L.
IOir tor l
0
.e for AnalyTis and Evaluation of Operational Data i
Enclosures:
1.
Procedures in Support of the Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan (FRERP) for Reentry of COSMOS 1900 2.
COSM05-1900 FRMAC Organization Chart cc w/o encis: See Page 3 L
Regional Administrators cc w/o encis:
V. Stello, E00-J. Taylor, DEDO T. Hurley, NRR E. Bockjord, RES H. Thompson,NMSS H. Denton, GPA DISTRIBUTION (w/ enc 1 1, w/o enci 2)
ELJordan, AE00 CJHeltemes, AE00 RLSpessard, AE00 GGZech, AE00 AE00 R/F IRB R/F 00A R/F DCS MATaylor, OE00 BWeiss (w/encis)
EWeinstein i
- SEE PREVIOUS PAGE FOR CONCURR(NCE
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