Comment by tech_ken
6 days ago
From the article: > We said criticality in 2026, electricity production in 2027, and power to the warfighter in 2028.
Are there any other examples of land-based militaries using nuclear power? Seems kind of like since they can't talk about the energy transition or w/e this has to be a military thing instead.
That's originally what the SL-1 reactor was meant for. It was also developed at Idaho Falls.
Instead of parking diesel generators up at Arctic radar stations (and other remote locations), we'd use a nuclear reactor, which is a logical choice.
The problems were:
1) one control rod could send the entire reactor prompt critical
2) rods could get stuck, requiring that they be "exercised" very carefully as to prevent them from making #1 happen
3) this maintenance was being done by a man in his early 20s who had been sleep deprived and received a phone call before his shift from his wife asking for a divorce
The result was the only immediately-fatal reactor accident in American history.
Glad to see that we're getting over this and moving forward with the concept. Only took us 60+ years...
"Stalin is proud to support the rebirth of Soviet Russia’s nuclear industry and ensuring soviets have access to affordable, reliable and secure energy for generations to come". Always mention the fearless leader.