Moving nuclear waste is no joke and the containers that the stuff moves in have to be some of the most robust on Earth. In this video you’ll see a 1978 test of a cask that was being developed to haul spent fuel rods from nuclear power plants. They do amazing things to this poor cask. We’re talking things that involve rocket powered big rigs, rocket powered trains, a pool of aviation fuel, and impacts with a 690-ton concrete wall. SPOILER ALERT: The cask lives through every mental impact, fire, and attempt on its life that these guys throw at it.
We’re not sure what these containers were made of but we’re reasonably sure that everything on Earth should be made of them. We’re talking juice boxes, cars, containers that produce are shipped in, and luggage. Outside of the nearly immeasurable impacts you’ll see, let’s revel in the fact that the trucks and the freaking train that bashes the cash are all powered by rockets of varying sizes. Maybe it is because we’re at Bonneville and are completely speed obsessed these days, but watching the acceleration ramp of these vehicles (especially the train!) is impressive as hell.
The last point we’ll bring up is the fact that if the containers were this good like 40 years ago, imagine where we’re at in cask technology today! Ok, you are right, we have probably regressed, cut the budget, scrimped on materials, and they probably leak from the factory now. Good point.
This is carnage of the best time. Scientific carnage!
