Editing Radioactive waste (section)

==== Space disposal ====
Space disposal is attractive because it removes nuclear waste from the planet. It has significant disadvantages, such as the potential for catastrophic failure of a [[launch vehicle]], which could spread radioactive material into the atmosphere and around the world. A high number of launches would be required because no individual rocket would be able to carry very much of the material relative to the total amount that needs to be disposed. This makes the proposal economically impractical and increases the risk of one or more launch failures.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m0XndPyS8ZYC&pg=PA1 |title=Disposition of high-level waste and spent nuclear fuel: the continuing societal and technical challenges |author=National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Disposition of High-Level Radioactive Waste Through Geological Isolation |publisher=National Academies Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-309-07317-2 |page=122}}</ref> To further complicate matters, international agreements on the regulation of such a program would need to be established.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 2003 |title=Managing nuclear waste: Options considered |url=http://www.ocrwm.doe.gov/factsheets/doeymp0017.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515020834/http://www.ocrwm.doe.gov/factsheets/doeymp0017.shtml |archive-date=2009-05-15 |work=DOE Factsheets |publisher=[[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]]: Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, [[Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository|Yucca Mountain Project]]}}</ref> Costs and inadequate reliability of modern rocket launch systems for space disposal has been one of the motives for interest in [[non-rocket spacelaunch]] systems such as [[mass driver]]s, [[space elevator]]s, and other proposals.<ref name="Cherkashin">{{cite web |url=http://ecosun.org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311175438/http://ecosun.org/ |archive-date=2008-03-11 |title=Wastes on the Sun? – System of disposal nuclear and high toxic wastes. Design. |first=Yuri |last=Cherkashin |date=2004 |access-date=2011-12-19 |url-status=dead}}</ref>