Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 350-358 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie |
| Volume | 647 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 23 Nov 2020 |
| Publication status | Published - 26 Feb 2021 |
Abstract
On August 8, 2019, an explosion of a military missile occurred at the Nenoksa (also transcribed as Nyonoksa) Missile Test Center (Russian Federation). Russian authorities confirmed a release of radioactive material in the course of this incident, which fueled rumors that it could have involved a nuclear-propelled missile of the Burevestnik/Skyfall type. In this study, our radioanalytical efforts are summarized searching for the “smoking gun” of the incident. These included the gamma-measurements of air filters from two vessels that were in some proximity to the event as well as one Greek high-volume air filter. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that radioactive 42Ar may have been used to operate a radiothermal generator. If the incident had released 42Ar, it may have become detectable by measuring characteristic gamma radiation emitted from a tank containing liquefied atmospheric argon. No traces whatsoever were found that could provide clues about the release. It is possible that the presumably small amounts of radionuclides released from either a small nuclear reactor or a powerful radionuclide source dispersed quickly over Russian territory to non-detectable levels before reaching any of our assayed samples.
Keywords
- environmental monitoring, environmental radioactivity, fission products, nuclear propelled missile, peace-related research
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry(all)
- Inorganic Chemistry
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In: Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie, Vol. 647, No. 4, 26.02.2021, p. 350-358.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Searching for the “smoking gun” of the miscarried 2019 Nenoksa nuclear cruise missile test
T2 - a null result
AU - Spykman, Imke
AU - Blenke, Tobias
AU - Büchner, Sebastian
AU - Degering, Detlev
AU - Eleftheriadis, Konstantinos
AU - Fischer, Helmut W.
AU - Lasche, George
AU - Masson, Olivier
AU - Mietelski, Jerzy W.
AU - Ransby, Daniela
AU - Renz, Franz
AU - Souti, Maria Evangelia
AU - Zok, Dorian
AU - Steinhauser, Georg
PY - 2021/2/26
Y1 - 2021/2/26
N2 - On August 8, 2019, an explosion of a military missile occurred at the Nenoksa (also transcribed as Nyonoksa) Missile Test Center (Russian Federation). Russian authorities confirmed a release of radioactive material in the course of this incident, which fueled rumors that it could have involved a nuclear-propelled missile of the Burevestnik/Skyfall type. In this study, our radioanalytical efforts are summarized searching for the “smoking gun” of the incident. These included the gamma-measurements of air filters from two vessels that were in some proximity to the event as well as one Greek high-volume air filter. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that radioactive 42Ar may have been used to operate a radiothermal generator. If the incident had released 42Ar, it may have become detectable by measuring characteristic gamma radiation emitted from a tank containing liquefied atmospheric argon. No traces whatsoever were found that could provide clues about the release. It is possible that the presumably small amounts of radionuclides released from either a small nuclear reactor or a powerful radionuclide source dispersed quickly over Russian territory to non-detectable levels before reaching any of our assayed samples.
AB - On August 8, 2019, an explosion of a military missile occurred at the Nenoksa (also transcribed as Nyonoksa) Missile Test Center (Russian Federation). Russian authorities confirmed a release of radioactive material in the course of this incident, which fueled rumors that it could have involved a nuclear-propelled missile of the Burevestnik/Skyfall type. In this study, our radioanalytical efforts are summarized searching for the “smoking gun” of the incident. These included the gamma-measurements of air filters from two vessels that were in some proximity to the event as well as one Greek high-volume air filter. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that radioactive 42Ar may have been used to operate a radiothermal generator. If the incident had released 42Ar, it may have become detectable by measuring characteristic gamma radiation emitted from a tank containing liquefied atmospheric argon. No traces whatsoever were found that could provide clues about the release. It is possible that the presumably small amounts of radionuclides released from either a small nuclear reactor or a powerful radionuclide source dispersed quickly over Russian territory to non-detectable levels before reaching any of our assayed samples.
KW - environmental monitoring
KW - environmental radioactivity
KW - fission products
KW - nuclear propelled missile
KW - peace-related research
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85100132859&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/zaac.202000291
DO - 10.1002/zaac.202000291
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85100132859
VL - 647
SP - 350
EP - 358
JO - Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie
JF - Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie
SN - 0044-2313
IS - 4
ER -