Space is, conceptually, the most appealing long term storage option for, high level, radioactive waste. The waste would be safely away from humans regardless of the activities of nature or man on earth. Anyone accidentally stumbleing upon the waste would be using radioactive shielding for space travel, thus lessening or eliminating harm. Delivery of the waste into space is a crippling drawback. The rocket used to deliver the waste into space would need to provide enough power to escape the earthÕs gravity. This is necessary for two reasons: to leave the waste in orbit creates space garbage that can collide with satellites and other spacecraft, and orbiting waste is likely to re-enter the earthÕs atmosphere at some time over the several thousand year storage period. The large delivery rocket would be expensive and an accident during launch could have catastrophic results. Space disposal will not be an option until space travel is considerably safer and less expensive.
Ezra Gold ezrg_ltd@uhura.cc.rochester.edu