Space Travel News
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Fukushima nuclear debris arrives at lab after secret journey
Fukushima nuclear debris arrives at lab after secret journey
by AFP Staff Writers
Tokyo (AFP) Nov 12, 2024

A small amount of radioactive debris removed by a robot from Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant has arrived at a research lab near Tokyo, the plant operator said Tuesday, after a journey kept secret for safety reasons.

The announcement comes after operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) said last week that a tricky trial debris removal operation using a specially developed extendible device had been completed.

More than 13 years after a catastrophic tsunami caused by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake triggered one of the world's worst nuclear accidents, around 880 tons of hazardous material remain.

Removing this debris is seen as the most daunting challenge in the decades-long decommissioning project, because of the dangerously high radiation levels.

Despite delays caused by technical snags, the trial debris removal from the plant in northeastern Japan went ahead with the aim of studying the sample for clues about conditions inside the reactors.

TEPCO said in an email to reporters on Tuesday that "the transportation of the fuel debris collected during the test removal operation... was completed" during the afternoon.

The company had not previously given details of when the 160 kilometre (100 mile) journey to the Oarai Nuclear Engineering Institute of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) would take place, citing safety concerns.

According to Japanese media reports, while the sample retrieved by the robot weighs 0.7 grams (0.02 ounces), the JAEA has said it would need at least one gram to conduct a proper analysis.

Three of Fukushima's six reactors went into meltdown in 2011 after the huge tsunami swamped the facility.

Japan last year began releasing into the Pacific Ocean some of the 540 Olympic swimming pools' worth of reactor cooling water amassed since the disaster.

The step sparked a diplomatic row with China and Russia, both of which banned seafood imports, although Japan insists the discharge is safe, a view backed by the UN atomic agency.

Beijing, however, said in September it would "gradually resume" importing seafood from Japan.

nf/kaf/sn

TEPCO - TOKYO ELECTRIC POWER

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
A world of storm and tempest
When the Earth Quakes

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Fukushima trial nuclear debris removal complete
Tokyo (AFP) Nov 7, 2024
A difficult operation to remove a small piece of radioactive debris from Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant using a robotic device was completed successfully, the plant operator said Thursday, after technical issues halted earlier attempts. Extracting the estimated 880 tons of highly radioactive fuel and debris from Fukushima remains the most challenging part of the decades-long decommissioning process. But radioactivity levels inside the former power station, which went into meltdown in 2 ... read more

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Ancient Martian waterways carved beneath icy caps

Explanation found for encrusting of the Martian soil

Perseverance surveys its path as it ascends Jezero Crater

Red Rocks with Green Spots at 'Serpentine Rapids'

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Bridgestone, Astrobotic Collaborate on Lunar Rover Tires

India plans lunar sample mission for 2028

Water extraction from Moon rocks advances for astronaut support

NASA's Lunar Trailblazer will map and analyze moon water

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Uranus moon Miranda may hold a hidden ocean below its surface

NASA and SpaceX Set for Europa Clipper Launch on October 14

NASA probe Europa Clipper lifts off for Jupiter's icy moon

Is life possible on a Jupiter moon? NASA goes to investigate

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Optimal Learning Rates Revealed in New Study on Adaptation

Ariel spacecraft prepares for rigorous tests at Airbus facility

Microbes thrive on iron in oxygen-free environments

Astronomers Identify New Organic Molecule in Interstellar Space

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
MSP technology powers accurate manufacturing for space industry

Student capsules brave re-entry heat for NASA research

Centaur Upper Stage Exhibit Honors Longstanding Contributions to Space Program

From contract signing to orbit in just ten weeks

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Shenzhou 18 brings back samples for space habitability and materials research

Shenzhou 18 crew back in China after 6-month mission to Tiangong station

Chinese space station crew returns after six months in orbit

Shenzhou XIX Crew Joins Tiangong Space Station for Crew Rotation

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Illuminating ancient origins of 4BN year-old Asteroid Ryugu

Hera's CubeSats call home from Deep Space

NRL captures stunning images of comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS

Meteorite impact shaped early Earth and promoted life

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.