50 Years Of Idaho Nuclear Power

As time goes on, descriptions and images that were once considered highly classified will start to filter out into the public domain as it becomes harder to justify keeping them under wraps. For example, those of us who were assigned to the S5G Prototype at the Naval Reactors Facility in Idaho probably didn't expect to see this again:

There it is, floating in its basin in all its glory. This fascinating picture comes from Chapter 10 of this remarkable history of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (now just the Idaho National Laboratory) from 1949-1999. Most nukes, after reading through Chap. 10, will want to go straight to the chapter on the SL-1 reactor accident; it's pretty in-depth.

I can't wait to see what else will be declassified (when appropriate) as time goes on. Maybe they'll eventually open up the Engine Room of the Nautilus for public tours. (All the plexiglass and signs are in place back there; all they need is permission from NR to open it up.)