Idaho Falls : The Untold Story of America's First Nuclear Accident

When asked to name the world’s first major nuclear accident, most people cite the Three Mile Island incident or the Chernobyl disaster. Revealed in this book is one of American history’s best-kept secrets: the world’s first nuclear reactor accident to claim fatalities happened on United States soil. Chronicled here for the first time is the strange tale of SL-1, a military test reactor located in Idaho’s Lost River Desert that exploded on the night of January 3, 1961, killing the three-man maintenance crew on duty. Through details uncovered in official documents, firsthand accounts from rescue workers and nuclear industry insiders, and exclusive interviews with the victims’ families and friends, this book probes intriguing questions about the devastating blast that have remained unanswered for more than 40 years. From reports of a faulty reactor design and mismanagement of the reactor’s facilities to rumors of incompetent personnel and a failed love affair that prompted deliberate sabotage of the plant, these plausible explanations for the explosion raise questions about whether the truth was deliberately suppressed to protect the nuclear energy industry. The little-known true story of a mysterious nuclear reactor disaster—years before Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, or Fukushima. Before the Three Mile Island incident or the Chernobyl disaster, the world's first nuclear reactor meltdown to claim lives happened on US soil. Chronicled here for the first time is the strange tale of SL-1, an experimental military reactor located in Idaho's Lost River Desert that exploded on the night of January 3, 1961, killing the three crewmembers on duty. Through exclusive interviews with the victims'families and friends, firsthand accounts from rescue workers and nuclear industry insiders, and extensive research into official documents, journalist William McKeown probes the many questions surrounding this devastating blast that have gone unanswered for decades. From reports of faulty design and mismanagement to incompetent personnel and even rumors of sabotage after a failed love affair, these plausible explanations raise startling new questions about whether the truth was deliberately suppressed to protect the nuclear energy industry. The little-known true story of a mysterious nuclear reactor disaster years before Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, or Fukushima Before the Three Mile Island incident or the Chernobyl disaster, the worlds first nuclear reactor meltdown to claim lives happened on U.S. soil. Chronicled here for the first time is the strange tale of SL-1, an experimental military reactor located in Idahos Lost River Desert that exploded on the night of January 3, 1961, killing the three crewmembers on duty. Through exclusive interviews with the victims families and friends, firsthand accounts from rescue workers and nuclear industry insiders, and extensive research into official documents, journalist William McKeown probes the many questions surrounding this devastating blast that have gone unanswered for decades. From reports of faulty design and mismanagement to incompetent personnel and even rumors of sabotage after a failed love affair, these plausible explanations raise startling new questions about whether the truth was deliberately suppressed to protect the nuclear energy industry. Contents......Page 9 Acknowledgments......Page 11 Prologue......Page 13 1 Nuclear Apprenticeship......Page 19 2 Atomic Energy Meets the Cold War......Page 33 3 "There Must Be Something Wrong at SL-1"......Page 61 4 Wayward Atoms......Page 89 5 "Caution: Radioactive Materials"......Page 121 6 Accident Aftermath......Page 149 7 Murder-Suicide?......Page 195 8 Nuclear Legacy......Page 223 Epilogue......Page 251 Appendix......Page 257 Sources......Page 259 "Was the world's first fatal nuclear accident the 1961 explosion of a SL-1 military test reactor in Idaho the result of a crime of passion? Was the disaster promptly covered up to protect the burgeoning nuclear industry? Idaho Falls documents one of America's best-kept secrets and investigates the question of conspiracy."-- Amazon Nuclear Apprenticeship -- Atomic Energy Meets The Cold War -- There Must Be Something Wrong At Sl-1 -- Wayward Atoms -- Caution: Radioactive Materials -- Accident Aftermath -- Murder-suicide? -- Nuclear Legacy. [william Mckeown]. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 259-269).