Fukushima's Robotic Mission: A Pioneering Step in Nuclear Cleanup

A robot has entered the Fukushima nuclear power plant's damaged reactor to begin retrieving melted fuel debris for the first time. This marks a crucial initial step in the decades-long process of decommissioning the plant, which was severely damaged by a 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

On Tuesday, a pioneering robot entered a damaged reactor at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant, initiating a high-stakes, two-week mission to retrieve a tiny amount of melted fuel debris for the first time. This endeavor is seen as a pivotal first step in the daunting, decades-long process of decommissioning the plant, which suffered extensive damage following a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

The robot's expedition into the Unit 2 reactor aims to gather essential data about the status of the melted fuel debris, which combines nuclear fuel with other reactor materials. Understanding this debris is crucial for safely removing and storing it, a task complicated by high levels of radiation and unknown factors within the reactors.

Experts hope this mission will yield invaluable insights, paving the way for future operations. The cleanup process will involve probing deeper into the reactors to retrieve and store the highly radioactive materials securely. Given the complexity and risks, decommissioning the plant is expected to take several decades, if not longer.

(With inputs from agencies.)