Locating the Lost Athena Missile in Mexico by the Aerial Radiological Measuring System (ARMS)

Abstract

On 11 July 1970, an Athena missile was launched by the U.S. Air Force from Green River, Utah, as part of a routine testing program. The nose cone contained two WO sources of approximately 470 mCi each. The Athena operated abnormally resulting in an impact in Mexico. Through the USAEC, the EG&G Aerial Radiological Measuring System (ARMS) scientific team was asked to participate in the search for the 6 7 C~ using the ARMS gamma radiation detection system. In a period of 3 days, the impact crater was located and the ground recovery team was directed to the site. Various samples were returned to the EG&G Las Vegas laboratory for analysis and identification.

The use of difference spectra with a filtered rolling average background in mobile gamma spectrometry measurements

“…Several incidents have occurred where mobile systems using gamma spectrometry equipment have been deployed to locate such sources. These have included locating an Athena missile carrying two 57 Co sources in 1970 [7], debris from the nuclear powered Cosmos-954 satellite that re-entered the atmosphere over Canada in 1978 [8,9] and the 1987 accident at Goiânia in Brazil [10].…”

Shielded and unshielded geometries in the search for orphan sources

“…Any detector sensitive to gamma radiation can be used, but highly sensitive gamma spectrometers are to prefer. Successful use of mobile gamma spectrometers in the search for orphan radioactive sources, and the recovery of radioactive material in the environment have been demonstrated over the years (e.g., Deal et al, 1972;Bristow, 1978;Moreira, 1991).…”