From the Archives, 1996: Red alert as Mars probe falls to Earth – The Age

First published in The Age on November 19, 1996

Russia plays down threat to Australia

MOSCOWS MARS DEBACLE

The Mars 96 probe.Credit:NASA

Russia has denied that Australia faced a serious threat from the stricken Mars 96 probe, which was the focus of a national emergency alert yesterday before the satellite crashed thousands of kilometres away in the South Pacific Ocean.

Russias ambassador in Canberra, Mr Alexander Losyukov, said he told the Foreign Minister, Mr Alexander Downer, in a meeting yesterday morning that the potential for a major problem was very, very remote.

Loading

Mr Losyukov also disputed American advice to Australia that the probe carried canisters containing 200 grams of highly dangerous plutonium.

There were four batteries, each containing six grams of plutonium, designed to withstand temperatures of 3000 degrees, Mr Losyukov said.

The space probe eventually crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Easter Island about 12.30pm, more than 1000 kilometres west of Chile. It is considered highly unlikely that the spacecraft, including the deadly plutonium, will be recovered.

See original here:

From the Archives, 1996: Red alert as Mars probe falls to Earth - The Age