Strong quake and tsunami hits Japan

[ordnance11]

I can clearly pick up on what both of you are saying. One is saying, "Stay calm, stay cool, and have faith in the abilities of your equipment." The other is saying, "Humans can and will make mistakes - it is inherent in our nature. Therefore, let us take no chance. Instead, let us take every precaution possible."

I agree with both statements. Now is not the time to panic. However, we've already seen that Murphy is running roughgshod, so in all honesty we can no longer afford to leave anything to chance.

The equipment in question maybe doing it's job for the moment. But has anyone honestly made an up-close inspection of the reactor cores since the quake? Or even the concrete 'catch-pans' that are supposed to contain molten core material? So far, all we have to go on are measurements taken from outside the containment vessels. That not fully reassuring to me.

Here's an idea. Why don't we use one of those robots that EOD units are so found of using? That way we can get a look inside the containment structure without risk of human life.

Most of all, I feel we need more technicians on the scene. Right now, all the other reactors in Japan are shut down. Surely some of the operators and technicians from the inactive, unaffected sites would be willing to help their colleagues in need. And I don't want to hear a word about it being impossible to get people there. They have helicopters. They can use them. And they can avoid the radioactive fallout quite easily - it's what the Navy has been doing by moving most of their ships to the western side of Japan, and they still manage to get their humanitarian missions accomplished.

They're probably rotating technicians in and out to spread the dose. As far as robot inspectors go, it's a good idea but not practical yet. Radio frequencies aren't going to go far inside the containment building. You could use a tethered line to transmit commands, but that would mean still having to send an operator inside the containment building. Either you're exposing the operator(s) to radiation. What you really need is an autonomous robot. Does EOD or DOD have any in stock?
__________________
Into terror!,  Into valour!
Charge ahead! No! Never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn!
- Scarlett Pimpernell