United States Air Force radioisotope material launch approval requirements

Abstract

National Security Presidential Memorandum #20 [1] recently superseded National Security Council, Presidential Directive #25 [2] both of which require evaluation of risks associated with launch of radioactive sources into space. This evaluation is conducted by the Interagency Nuclear Safety Review Board (INSRB)*⁎The Interagency Nuclear Safety Review Panel (INSRP) consisted of the Department of Defense (DoD), charged with national security and the US Armed Forces; Department of Energy (DOE), concerned with US policies regarding energy and safety in handling and use of nuclear material; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), responsible for human health and preservation of the environment; National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA), responsible for the civilian space program; and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; (NRC), tasked with protecting public health and safety related to nuclear energy. The INSRP was replaced by the INSRB per NSPM-20 in August, 2019, adding two new organizations to the board, the Department of Transportation (DOT) responsible for transportation safety and the Department of State (DOS) responsible for international agreements.. The Air Force (AF) Chief of Space Safety is a co-chair on the Board representing the Department of Defense. There have historically existed no regulated acceptable risk thresholds within US Government or AF guidance specific to the potential for radioisotope exposure should a launch of this nature fail. To this end, the AF rewrote its existing policy to establish launch safety criteria for use by the AF Launch Decision Authority when approving launches that use radioactive sources. This paper outlines the thought process used while developing launch safety criteria specifically, with regard to when a risk evaluation should be accomplished and what the acceptable risk threshold should be.