- Author
- U.S. Department of the Air Force | Bechtle Corporation
- Title
- Gas Detection Systems for Atlas Missile Launching Facilities.
- Coporate
- Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC Bechtle Corp., Los Angeles, CA
- Keywords
- missile systems | gas detectors | launching sites | explosion hazards
- Abstract
- The explosive hazards in the hardened ATLAS ICBM launching facilities have been a primary and continuing concern of the Ballistic Missile Division of the U.S.Air Force since the beginning of the Missile program. It should be noted that a considerable quantity and variety of gases and special fluids are required in the normal operation and servicing of a typical ATLAS missile launching facility. However, the explosive hazards inherent in the presence of large quantities of liquid oxygen, diesel fuel oil, and RP-1 (liquid hydrocarbon missile fuel) are of special significance. In addition, the toxic and corrosive effects, as well as the high pressures at which many of the systems function, contirbute to the seriousness of the problem.