The Russian Mars 96 space probe crashed to Earth carrying plutonium batteries. Initially, it was said to have fallen into the Pacific ocean. Later, it was revealed to have scattered debris over the Atacama desert in Chile and Bolivia.

Now, in October, there is the scheduled Cassini probe to Saturn carrying 72 pounds of plutonium. This probe will orbit Venus twice and come hurling back at the earth to get the gravitational boost to get to Saturn. What if something goes wrong and it vaporizes in the earth’s atmosphere? What if the Titan rocket carrying the Cassini probe explodes on the launch pad spreading radioactive dust over much of Florida?

Plutonium is one of the most dangerous substances known. Dr. Helen Caldicott, founder of Physicians for Social Responsibility, has stated that one pound of plutonium, if evenly distributed among the earth’s population, would be enough to give everyone lung cancer.

None of this is considered serious enough by our free, independent, objective and piercingly investigative media to make the evening news. They would rather talk about Tiger Woods or some other celebrity. I fear that this may be just the prelude to nuclear weapons in space and nuclear-powered rockets.

Some very rich and powerful men are playing Russian roulette with life on earth, and it is occurring in absolute media silence. What an Orwellian world it is becoming!

Gary Sudboroug

Bellflower, Calif.