Robot enters Fukushima's nuclear core to retrieve melted-down remains
A robot named Telesco is retrieving melted fuel from Fukushima's Unit 2 reactor, aiming to extract three grams of nuclear waste as part of TEPCO's decommissioning efforts by 2050.
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A robot named Telesco has begun operations at the Fukushima nuclear power plant's Unit 2 reactor to retrieve a small sample of melted fuel from the 2011 disaster. The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) aims to extract approximately three grams of nuclear waste from an estimated 880 tons present in the reactor. The robot will be maneuvered into the reactor core using telescoping poles that extend 22 meters (72 feet). This mission is part of TEPCO's broader decommissioning efforts, which they hope to complete by 2050, although this timeline has been deemed optimistic. Previous attempts to send robots into the reactor have met with mixed results, including a failed mission in August due to assembly errors. TEPCO emphasizes the importance of safely and reliably conducting these operations, as the state of the fuel debris is crucial for future decommissioning strategies. The Japanese government has committed to overseeing the decommissioning process thoroughly. Japan is also working to revive its nuclear industry, which has faced challenges in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, including a skills shortage in the sector.
- TEPCO's robot Telesco is retrieving melted fuel from Fukushima's Unit 2 reactor.
- The goal is to extract three grams of nuclear waste from 880 tons.
- The decommissioning of the Fukushima site is targeted for completion by 2050.
- Previous robotic missions have had mixed success due to high radiation levels.
- Japan is attempting to revive its nuclear industry after the Fukushima disaster.
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