The Special Power Excursion Reactor Test Program (SPERT) was a series of tests focusing on the safety of
nuclear reactors
A nuclear reactor is a device used to initiate and control a fission nuclear chain reaction or nuclear fusion reactions. Nuclear reactors are used at nuclear power plants for electricity generation and in nuclear marine propulsion. Heat from nu ...
.
[Nuclear Safety — A review of Recent Developments. Volume 2, Number 3. pgs. 15-16.] It was commissioned in 1954 by the
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by U.S. Congress to foster and control the peacetime development of atomic science and technology. President ...
, to be run by the
Phillips Petroleum Company.
Reactors
SPERT-I
The SPERT-I reactor became operational in July 1955, with the first tests being performed in September.
[W. E. Nyer, S. G. Forbes]
SPERT I Reactor Safety Studies.
/ref>
SPERT-II
The SPERT-II reactor became operational in March 1960.[
]
References
External links
* by SPERT researcher
Nuclear safety and security
{{nuclear-energy-stub