Fukushima’s Latest Robot: The Mighty Test of Radioactive Jet‑Fuel
What’s the Buzz?
On February 13, a “brain‑dead” automaton will step into the murky basement of Fukushima’s Reactor 2 to touch‑and‑see the melted nuclear material that’s stuck there like a stubborn glacier.
Why We Need a Robot
- Human crews can’t survive the lethal radiation for more than few seconds.
- The fuel’s status—solid or crumbly—is a huge puzzle before the massive removal plan can kick off.
- It’s the guts of the hardest part of the biggest clean‑up ever after the 2011 disaster.
Operation Snapshot
Spokeswoman Speaks for TEPCO says it starts at 7 a.m. local time, running for roughly five hours, and so far, the robot is making a splash with no hiccups.
Past‑Melt Saga
Our robot won’t be the first visitor. Earlier missions used cameras to peer inside, but today it’s about feeling the melt’s fragility. The operation happens in Reactor 2—one of the three that suffered a molten core after that giant quake‑tsunami combo.
Awaiting a 2021 Clean‑up
Even though the robot’s sticking around, the real wagon will start next year, 2021, once TEPCO sorts out the other biggest headaches:
- The water problem—massive tanks holding contaminated liquid.
- Logistics of hauling out bone‑dry solids.
The Human Toll
The 2011 tsunami—not just a flood of seawater—killed about 18,000 souls, dumped many cities, and sent a horde of people fleeing for safety.
Today’s Deadlines
While the rebuilt region north of Tokyo is looking to bounce back, the radioactive mess near the plant still marks an uninhabitable gray zone. Until the robot helps, and the 2021 clean‑up starts, folks won’t set foot there for the foreseeable future.
