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VK3ABK > TECH 17.02.04 01:01l 46 Lines 2122 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 15799_VK3KAY
Read: DB0FHN GUEST OE7FMI
Subj: Re: Re Atom Bomb, Heavy water.
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<OK0PPL<DB0RES<ON0AR<VK6HGR<VK3KAY
Sent: 040216/2327Z @:VK3KAY.#WEV.VIC.AUS.OC #:15799 [Wendouree] $:15799_VK3KAY
From: VK3ABK@VK3KAY.#WEV.VIC.AUS.OC
To : TECH@WW
Hello all.
A bulletin has arrived from Jeff, G4XNH. "Re: Atom Bomb, Heavy water? ?'s"
Jeff has sent this @WW although it follows a bulletin @GB from Andy, GM7HUD.
Jeff mentions Australia, and invites an 'Australian' comment from "those on
the ground" and "at ground zero". Emotive references, and difficult to do
justice to. Maybe we can get an eyewitness account and accurate information.
I have strong and conflicting views on some of the words and meaning in the
bulletin, but I will just make some general suggestions.
I think both Jeff and Andy should consider the 'vast' areas of the states
in the USA where the atomic tests and the other activity (motion picture?)
took place. The same applies to Australia; something that is likely to be
forgotten by people in the UK. There is a lot of space and I have not seen
more than a UK size bit of the country. Nor am I likely to.
The 'Australian' atomic testing done at Maralinga, South Australia, was too
far from the nearest ocean for a man on a ship to see it; 500km or more,
but I would need to consult a map. William Penny conducted British tests on
Monte Bello islands, off the Western Australia coast, but they were low
yield, and low level, equipment tests. He used cans of water to gauge the
effect! Australia was the testing ground for Britain because of the vast
deserted areas available. Our Aborigines may have been relocated but that's
a contentious matter.
As for X-rays showing a man's hand-bones, the visible light from the blast
is more likely to be the cause. This and other 'tales' have made the testing
of atomic devices sound deadly. There is no doubt that some of the testing
was done in the early years under primitive conditions, and safety was not
as vital as it would be today. It was a learning process. The French have
successfully tested, and equally successfully used the results to now get
about 80% of their power from atomic generation. Where are the 'casualties
from their program?
It all depends on your attitude to progressive science and engineering.
73. Dick. VK3ABK.
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