Why Don't We Shoot Nuclear Waste Into Space?

Summary by Krater

This video examines why launching nuclear waste into space is impractical and dangerous, concluding that the immense costs, lack of rockets, orbital debris hazards, and risk of launch failures make it a terrible solution.

From the video

Answers: Why can't we shoot nuclear waste into space?

• Nuclear waste disposal methods
• Space launch costs and economics
• Orbital mechanics and space debris
• Rocket reliability and failure rates
• Comparison of nuclear waste and coal ash hazards

What it concludes

• 97% of nuclear waste is low or intermediate level and can be handled safely on Earth.
• Shooting nuclear waste into low Earth orbit is prohibitively expensive, costing about $44 billion per year for all operational power plants.
• There are currently not enough rockets launched annually to handle the volume of high-level nuclear waste.
• Orbiting nuclear waste around Earth creates a severe space debris and collision hazard with risk of atmospheric drag causing it to rain down.
• Launching waste to the Moon or Sun requires much larger rockets and makes the cost and risk of failure even greater.
• Burning coal produces millions of tons of ash containing significant radioactive materials like uranium and radon, which is handled less carefully than nuclear waste.