TRITIUM, ARGON 37, AND MANGANESE 54 RADIOACTIVITIES IN A FRAGMENT OF SPUTNIK 4

Journal Article · Sun Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 1963 · Journal of Geophysical Research (U.S.)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ068i018p05289· OSTI ID:4629895

DeFelice, J; Fireman, E L; Tilles, D

Tritium, Ar/sup 37/, and Mn/sup 54/ radioactivities were measured in samples from a steel fragment of Sputnik 4. The tritium activity was low compared with the amount expected to be produced by cosmic rays. Some metallurgical evidence suggests the possibility that the lowest tritium content was in the sample that may have experienced the most heating. The amount of manganese 54 radioactivity was approximately 40% of the value obtained in Aroos by others, whereas the amount of Ar/sup 37/ was about 20% of that measured in Aroos and about 30% of that estimated from the Ar/sup 39/ measurements in Aroos, Norfork, Pitts, and Treysa, together with the ratio of production cross sections. (auth)

• Research Organization: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, Mass.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-037922
• OSTI ID: 4629895
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research (U.S.), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 68; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ARGON 37
COSMIC RADIATION
HEATING
INTERACTIONS
MANGANESE 54
METEORITES
PHYSICS
PRODUCTION
RADIOISOTOPES
RE-ENTRY
SATELLITES
SPACE VEHICLES
STEELS
TRITIUM