Robot mission to retrieve melted fuel debris at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant halted due to video feed issues
The mission to retrieve the first sample of melted fuel debris inside a damaged reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was suspended due to video feed problems. This is the second time in less than a month that the mission had to be halted, causing delays in the cleanup process.
The extendable robot, named “Telesco,” was supposed to collect a fragment inside the reactor but faced technical difficulties with its cameras. The Tokyo Electric Power Holdings Co. has been trying to access the reactors to decommission the plant since the 2011 disaster.
Despite the setbacks, the government and TEPCO remain committed to a 30-to-40-year cleanup plan, although experts suggest a more realistic timeline is needed. The full removal and disposal of the fuel debris have not been finalized.
The mission’s resumption is uncertain as technicians work to resolve the camera issues. Stay tuned for updates on this challenging and critical cleanup effort at Fukushima.
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