Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- Already green missiles are more than just a theory. Several NATO countries are putting a lot of effort into their development.... "Why expose your own people to unnecessary risks?" Tuesday September 4 2:35 PM ET 'Green Bombs' Set for Battlefields of the Future? By Ed Cropley GLASGOW, Scotland (Reuters) - NATO troops could one day be firing ``green weapons'' that are just as deadly to people as their conventional counterparts but not as harmful to the environment, a scientist said Tuesday. It may sound an absurd idea to develop environmentally-friendly missiles when their whole purpose is to destroy, but scientists point out that the vast majority are fired in training over home ground. The new generation of green explosives are based on a mixture of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen, beefed up by a special chemical process to pack a bigger punch. But unlike normal explosives and rocket propellants, the by-products produced when they blow up are totally harmless. ``If we mix them (nitrogen and oxygen) together in a ratio of four to one, they produce nothing but hot air,'' said chemistry professor Thomas Klaptoke from Munich University. Modern day rocket fuels contain a number of chlorine-based compounds which react to produce a range of unpleasant chemicals, including hydrochloric acid, the main cause of acid rain. ``In the very near future, say 20 years, it should be possible to launch a missile which operates on a chlorine-free basis,'' he said. Already green missiles are more than just a theory. Several NATO countries are putting a lot of effort into their development and some have already been fired on test ranges, comparing favorably with traditional explosives, he said. Only the exorbitant costs of making the high energy nitrogen needed to create a big bang is keeping the technology away from the front lines. ``At the moment it is more than 100 times more expensive than conventional explosives, but we are still in testing. When we get to mass production we would be happy if they cost two or three times more,'' he said. Although primarily aimed at cleaning up huge space rockets like the European Space Agency's Ariane 4 and 5, the technology can be scaled down for handguns, making them safer for soldiers and police officers who risk lead poisoning from hours of indoor target practice. There have been concerns for many years that lead particles contained in gun smoke might affect soldiers' health. Klaptoke was quick to point out that an environmentally-friendly grenade appeared to be a contradiction in terms when its whole purpose is still to destroy. But he insisted that on closer inspection, the idea was not so stupid. ``It may seem strange that military and rocket people are concerned about the environment, but 99 percent of all missiles are launched in training over your own ground,'' he told the British Association's Festival of Science. ``Why expose your own people to unnecessary risk?'' __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [email protected] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
