CASSINI SPACE PROBE

Early day motion 544, tabled 15 April 1999 by Ann Cryer (Labour). Signed by 37 members.

That this House notes the launch of the NASA space probe Cassini and its intended mission to explore Saturn and recognises the importance of such missions in order to achieve a better understanding of space and the solar system; notes that Cassini is powered by 73 pounds of plutonium; further notes that NASA intends to slingshot Cassini around the earth at 42,000 miles per hour in August of this year; is concerned about the potential risk to the environment that this previously untried manoeuvre could present if it went wrong and Cassini disintegrated upon entering the earth's atmosphere scattering its plutonium power source around the globe; believes that plutonium is unnecessary as a power source for any space probe; also believes that high efficiency solar cells such as those developed by the European Space Agency would be a far safer alternative; further believes that the proposed Cassini slingshot of the Earth's atmosphere should be cancelled; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to relay the concerns of this House regarding the proposed Cassini flyby to the US Government and NASA as a matter of urgency and to urge the US Government to cancel this proposed mission.

Signatures by party: Labour 35, Labour/Co-operative 1, Liberal Democrat 1.