Comment by lenerdenator

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...