Los Alamos nuke lab blew up building with cannon

Los Alamos nuke lab blew up building with cannon

rawstory.com

'I have no idea why they have a gun like this,' watchdog investigator says

Researchers at the Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory in New Mexico accidentally blew up a building with a "Civil-war-like" cannon earlier this month, raising further fears about the safety of the facility that has seen more than its share of security breaches in recent years.

According to an "occurrence report" (PDF) filed by the lab and obtained by the Project on Government Oversight, the accident took place on December 16 as researchers tested a gun that "acts like a Civil War cannon," according to a POGO pr

(visit the link for the full news article)

To quote the immortal Homer Simpson , " Dough ! "

Sounds to me like these people with a nice government job just might have a bit to much time on there hands .

Wonder how long it will take before they realize that they have nukes , who knows they just may decide to " test " one of them .

rawstory.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

What the heck?

There is not much more to say than that.

reply to post by Max_TO


This is a failure of a cannon described in the press report as Civil War like. I doubt that it was used by General Grant. It was probably a smooth-bore gun used to test very high velocity projectiles or used to impinge high velocity projectiles on a test object. Smooth-bore cannon were common in the civil war and the reporter may have made the connection, humorously, as reporters often do. Maybe the scandal rag wanted everyone think that a hobby cannon had exploded. Breech pressure must have been a bit on the high side.
It was obviously dangerous or the engineers wouldn't have been in a bunker firing it remotely.

reply to post by pteridine

Correct.

UPDATE: “Despite claims to the contrary, the only thing ‘demolished’ in this case was POGO’s credibility. No building at Los Alamos was destroyed in this incident and any suggestion otherwise is the sort of irresponsible hyperbole we’ve come to expect from this group,” National Nuclear Security Administration spokesman Damien LaVera e-mails Danger Room.

Here are the facts: On December 16, Los Alamos conducted a standard proof test on a new design for a catch tank in the target chamber for one of our large bore powder guns (LBPG). These types of experiments are routine and responsible. The LBPG is used to conduct measurements of material properties at pressures needed for understanding nuclear weapons performance. During this particular test, unexpected explosive damage occurred and, because that damage could result in $1 million in damages, an investigation was automatically triggered. That investigation will seek to identify the cause of the incident and any changes in procedures that might be required. NNSA, Los Alamos, and all of our facilities take their commitment to safety very seriously. It is important to note that no personnel were injured from this event, no hazardous or radioactive materials were involved, and that lab’s incident response mechanisms appear to have performed as intended.”

www.wired.com...

also posted here
www.abovetopsecret.com...

[edit on 12/24/2009 by Phage]

I see a piece of test equipment that failed nothing else.

www.osti.gov...

The only thing ‘demolished’ in this case was POGO’s credibility.

When you test high power explosive devices like cannon used to propelling projectiles for tests things go wrong once in a while.

That is why everyone was in a bunker, duh

Not every experimental piece of test equipment works right the first or every time.

That is why you do testing. and if its a test with something that goes bang that is why you hide in a bunker when doing the test.