A high-tech robot has resumed its mission to retrieve a fragment of melted fuel debris from one of the damaged reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The robot, named “telesco,” faced a setback three weeks ago due to a technical issue but is now back on track.
The collection of this tiny sample of spent fuel debris marks a crucial step in the decadeslong decommissioning process of the plant, which was severely impacted by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster. The robot is equipped with a device to collect the fragment and will be operated remotely from a safe location.
Despite a minor mix-up with the equipment, the mission is set to last about two weeks and aims to retrieve less than 3 grams of the estimated 880 tons of radioactive molten fuel remaining in the reactors. This sample will provide essential data for future decommissioning methods and technology development.
Despite criticism, the government and plant operator are committed to a 30 to 40-year cleanup target. Specific plans for the full removal of the melted fuel debris or its storage are yet to be determined.
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