Not since an enormous quake (and subsequent explosions) crippled the Fukushima plant has anyone stepped foot inside—the radiation has been too thick for humans, leaving robots to do the job. But not today, as workers braved the millisieverts.
After the robot squad reported lowered radiation levels, a team of twelve, working on quick shifts to prevent over-exposure, entered the plant’s leaking reactor to repair an urgently-needed ventilation system. Should it prove successful, the functioning ventilator will allow for more manned missions inside the plant, as radiation levels diminish further—an important path towards (safely) shutting the place down for good. [AP and Kyodo News]
