1979? | Atomic Meltdown U.S.A.

Source: "Unit 4" via YouTube
Date: 1979?

Here is a nostalgic Sunday Cinema feature, courtesy of Ray from Glowing Conversations. This news report from "Unit 4" news documents the Sodium Reactor Experiment (S.R.E.) meltdown at the Santa Susanna Field Laboratory (S.S.F.L) in 1959 that was kept secret for 20 years.

Part 1


Part 2

Theoretical physicist Michio Kaku makes a surprise guest appearance 3 minutes 50 seconds in to this segment, as he discusses the dangerous consequences had an uncontrolled reaction continued at the SSFL (Santa Susanna Field Laboratory) SRE (Sodium Reactor Experiment).

Part 3


It appears that the Japanese are trying to restart a contemporary sodium cooled reactor: the Monju fast-breeder reactor in Tsuruga, Japan. This reactor has been out of commission due to heavy equipment falling in to the reactor core, which happened before the Japan earthquake. There have been other safety problems prior to this including a 1995 fire caused by leaked sodium coolant, which was deemed one of Japan's worst nuclear accidents.  Protesters have resisted the Monju project since the 1970's.  Fast-breeder reactors have the advantage of greater efficiency in utilizing a higher percentage of nuclear fuel. However, since this particular reactor uses liquid sodium for cooling there is the danger that the sodium can ignite or explode if it happens to accidentally leak out in to open air (as in 1995) or contacts water.