United States Prepares Testing for Aging Nuclear Weapons
Project Scorpius Expected To Make Waves in Nuclear Science
Overt Operator
October 10, 2023
Reno, Nevada — In a groundbreaking move, scientists are set to begin shipping key components of the aging U.S. stockpile of nuclear weapons to Nevada's desert next year, the Associated Press reported last week.
This endeavor, known as the Scorpius project, aims to prepare for underground testing, a process scientists refer to as "tickling the dragon's tail."
Since the underground test ban in 1992, experts at national defense laboratories have been unable to physically validate the effectiveness and reliability of nuclear warheads.
However, the Energy Department recently announced that they are on the cusp of piecing together the necessary technology to conduct detailed studies of the final stages of a nuclear weapon implosion without an actual nuclear explosion.
As Jon Custer, the Sandi project lead in Albuquerque, New Mexico, explained to the Associated Press, the Scorpius project, with a budget of $1.8 billion, is expected to make this breakthrough a reality by 2027. This new approach will move beyond theoretical computer modeling and provide scientists with a more in-depth understanding of the conditions inside nuclear weapons.
The term "tickling the dragon's tail" aptly describes this experiment, as it pushes the boundaries without triggering a sustained chain reaction of nuclear material fission.
The primary objective of the Scorpius project is to address crucial questions regarding the functionality of the United States' aging nuclear weapons. In the past, these questions were answered by setting off actual nuclear explosions, which sent mushroom clouds soaring above the New Mexico and Nevada deserts during the Cold War. However, since 1992, testing has been limited to underground explosions.
This ambitious project has been in the works for a decade and has now entered the next phase at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico. Workers have begun assembling the high-energy electron beam injector, a highly intricate component of the Scorpius project. This injector is considered vital to the success of the endeavor.
The implications of this breakthrough are significant. The ability to physically validate the reliability and effectiveness of nuclear warheads will offer policymakers and defense experts invaluable insights. As geopolitical tensions continue to evolve, ensuring the viability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile is a matter of utmost importance.
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In conclusion, the Scorpius project represents a significant milestone in the quest to validate the effectiveness of the aging U.S. nuclear stockpile. By "tickling the dragon's tail," scientists are on the brink of uncovering crucial insights into the working conditions of nuclear weapons without the need for actual explosions. As this groundbreaking project progresses, it promises to enhance national security and inform defense policies for years to come.