The catastrophic 1961 explosion that remains America's only fatal nuclear reactor accident.
In short: On a winter night in 1961, an experimental reactor in Idaho suffered a sudden, deadly explosion. This video recounts the events of the SL-1 disaster, detailing how a routine check turned into the first and only fatal nuclear reactor accident in United States history.
At 9:01 PM on January 3, 1961, alarms triggered at the Atomic Energy Commission’s National Reactor Testing Station near Idaho Falls. When responders arrived at the SL-1 facility, they found the control room empty. Upon entering the reactor room, their radiation counters spiked beyond 25 Röntgens per hour, forcing an immediate retreat.
The explosion resulted in the deaths of all three crew members on duty that night. The incident remains the only fatal reactor accident in American history, leaving the experimental facility completely destroyed.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The SL-1 Accident- America’s First Fatal Reactor Mishap
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