Comment Re:The space race isn't over... (Score 1) 297
The article isn't forthcoming about details, but radioactive material falling to earth is only a concern if this uses nuclear power to reach orbit. If they're just talking about a small nuclear reactor as a power source for electronics and an ion engine (or something like that) then the fuel does not become significantly radioactive until it's safely out of earth's atmosphere. Until the reactor is turned on, you can handle the fuel with bare hands.