The Chernobyl Moon Rovers Explained

I Need More Space

11 Jun 201902:36

Summary

TLDRIn Episode 4 of 'Chernobyl,' a fascinating historical detail is revealed: the use of lunar rovers to clean up the radioactive roof of a reactor post-disaster. These rovers, derived from the Soviet Union's Lunokhod program, were lightweight, radiation-resistant, and originally designed for the moon. After the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, retired engineers were called back to modify these rovers for the cleanup. Though both rovers eventually failed due to extreme radiation, they likely saved many human lives by minimizing exposure. Today, remnants of these rovers can be found in Chernobyl's radioactive junkyard.

Takeaways

🌕 The script discusses a surprising use of Moon Rovers in the cleanup of the Chernobyl disaster.
🏗️ The lunar rovers were originally designed for the Soviet Union's Lunokhod program, which sent two rovers to the moon between 1969 and 1977.
☢️ After the Chernobyl disaster on April 26, 1986, the cleanup was complicated by the extreme radioactivity of the debris.
🤖 The organizers of the cleanup sought the help of the Soviet government for robotic assistance due to the dangers of human exposure.
🛠️ Lunar Rovers were chosen for their light weight and resistance to radiation, which made them suitable for the Chernobyl cleanup.
👴 Engineers and scientists who had retired were brought back to build two new Rovers for the Chernobyl mission.
🏆 The Rovers were successful in their task and earned awards for the designers, despite eventually failing due to high radiation levels.
👷‍♂️ Human workers, known as 'liquidators,' were later called in to complete the cleanup after the Rovers failed.
🏚️ A junkyard in Chernobyl contains the radioactive debris, including the Rovers, used during the cleanup.
🔍 The Rovers used at Chernobyl were not the original lunar rovers but were based on their designs and adapted for the new purpose.

Q & A

What is the significance of Moon Rovers in the context of the Chernobyl disaster?
-Moon Rovers were used to clean up the roof of one of the reactors at Chernobyl due to their ability to withstand radioactive energy and their lightweight design that wouldn't damage the roof.
What is the origin of the term 'Lunokhod'?
-Lunokhod is a Russian term that translates to 'Moonwalker,' and it refers to the Soviet Union's program that designed and sent lunar rovers to the moon between 1969 and 1977.
How many successful lunar rover missions were there as part of the Lunokhod program?
-There were two successful missions under the Lunokhod program before it was cancelled.
What prompted the use of lunar rovers in the Chernobyl cleanup?
-The organizers of the Chernobyl cleanup realized that the high levels of radioactivity made it extremely dangerous for humans to work near the nuclear debris, leading them to seek robotic alternatives.
What was the role of the Soviet government in providing lunar rovers for Chernobyl?
-The Soviet government was asked for assistance and provided the lunar rovers, which were adapted from the original designs used for the moon missions, to help with the cleanup efforts at Chernobyl.
How quickly were the lunar rovers built for Chernobyl after the disaster?
-The retired scientists who had built the original lunar rovers were brought back to work, and they managed to build two rovers within two weeks to be sent to Chernobyl.
What was the outcome of using lunar rovers in the Chernobyl cleanup?
-The lunar rovers were successful in cleaning off the roofs of the reactors, likely saving many lives by reducing human exposure to radiation. However, both rovers eventually failed due to the extremely high radiation levels.
Who were the 'liquidators' mentioned in the script?
-The 'liquidators' were human workers who were called in to finish cleaning up the roofs after the lunar rovers failed due to the high radiation levels.
What is the current state of the lunar rovers used at Chernobyl?
-The lunar rovers are now located in a junkyard filled with radioactive debris from the cleanup, serving as a testament to their role in the Chernobyl disaster.
Are there any visual records of the lunar rovers used in Chernobyl?
-Yes, there are pictures available online that show the lunar rovers in the junkyard at Chernobyl, which can be found with a simple search.
What is the broader implication of using lunar rover technology in the Chernobyl cleanup?
-The use of lunar rover technology at Chernobyl demonstrates the adaptability of space exploration technology for unconventional applications and highlights the importance of innovation in crisis management.

Outlines

00:00

🌕 The Surprise Lunar Rovers in Chernobyl

In Episode 4 of Chernobyl, a surprising detail is revealed—lunar rovers were used to clean up the roof of one of the reactors after the disaster. This caught the speaker's attention and could be intriguing to the audience as well. The use of these rovers stemmed from their origins in the Soviet Lunokhod program, which was responsible for sending rovers to the moon between 1969 and 1977.

🚀 Origins of the Soviet Lunar Rover Program

The Lunokhod program, meaning 'Moonwalker' in Russian, was a Soviet project designed to send rovers to the moon. Two successful missions occurred between 1969 and 1977, but after that, the program was canceled with no significant results. However, the technology would later find an unexpected use in the Chernobyl disaster cleanup.

💥 The Chernobyl Disaster and the Need for Rovers

On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster spread radioactive waste across large areas. Cleanup organizers soon realized that human workers could not be exposed to such high levels of radiation, even with protective gear, as exposure would be lethal in minutes. They turned to the Soviet government for help, requesting the use of lunar rovers.

🛠 Repurposing the Lunar Rovers for Chernobyl

Lunar rovers were chosen because they were light enough not to damage the reactor roof and resistant to radiation due to their design for the harsh lunar environment. Although the original engineers were long retired, the Soviet government brought them out of retirement, and within two weeks, they had two rovers ready and sent to Chernobyl to assist in the cleanup.

🏆 Rover Success and Human Liquidators

The lunar rovers performed successfully in cleaning the radioactive debris on the Chernobyl reactor roofs, and their designers were awarded for their efforts. However, due to the extreme radiation levels, both rovers eventually failed. Human workers, known as 'Liquidators,' were later brought in to finish the job. Many of them likely died from the radiation exposure, but the rovers' efforts saved numerous lives.

⚠️ Rovers and Chernobyl Today

If you visit Chernobyl today, you can find a junkyard filled with radioactive debris from the cleanup, including the remains of the lunar rovers. While visiting the site isn't recommended, online pictures show these relics, which were not exactly the same as the rovers that landed on the moon, but were based on their design from 15 years earlier.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Chernobyl

Chernobyl refers to the site of the catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred on April 26, 1986, at the No. 4 reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the city of Pripyat in the north of the Ukrainian SSR in the Soviet Union. The disaster is one of the most significant in the history of nuclear power and is central to the video's theme, as it discusses the use of lunar rovers in the aftermath of the disaster for cleanup efforts.

💡Lunar Rover

A lunar rover is a type of vehicle designed to operate on the surface of the moon. In the context of the video, it refers to the Moon Rovers used in the Soviet Union's Lunokhod program, which were later adapted for use in the Chernobyl cleanup due to their ability to withstand high radiation levels and navigate the rooftops of the damaged reactors.

💡Lunokhod Program

The Lunokhod program was a series of unmanned lunar rover missions conducted by the Soviet Union between 1969 and 1977. The program sent two successful missions to the moon. The keyword is significant as it provides the historical context for the rovers' design, which was later repurposed for the Chernobyl cleanup.

💡Radioactive

Radioactivity refers to the property of some atomic nuclei that allows them to decay by emitting radiation. In the video, this term is crucial as it describes the hazardous environment at Chernobyl, where high levels of radiation made it extremely dangerous for human workers, thus necessitating the use of robotic rovers.

💡Cleanup

Cleanup in the video refers to the extensive efforts to remove and manage the radioactive waste and debris resulting from the Chernobyl disaster. The term is central to the video's narrative, as it discusses how lunar rovers were utilized in this process to minimize human exposure to radiation.

💡Nuclear Debris

Nuclear debris refers to the radioactive materials and wreckage created by the explosion and meltdown at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The term is integral to understanding the challenges faced during the cleanup, where the rovers were used to navigate and manage this hazardous material.

💡Liquidators

The 'liquidators' were the personnel involved in the cleanup of the Chernobyl disaster. The term is significant in the video as it highlights the human aspect of the disaster response, where these workers were called upon to complete the cleanup tasks after the rovers had failed due to the extreme radiation levels.

💡Junkyard

In the video, the junkyard refers to a specific area where the radioactive debris and equipment used in the cleanup of Chernobyl are stored. The term is used to illustrate the lasting impact of the disaster and the remnants of the cleanup efforts, including the rovers themselves.

💡Radiation Resistance

Radiation resistance is the ability of a material or device to withstand exposure to radiation without significant damage or malfunction. The video discusses how the lunar rovers' design, originally intended for the moon's environment, provided them with the necessary radiation resistance to operate in the highly radioactive conditions at Chernobyl.

💡Soviet Union

The Soviet Union, also known as the USSR, was a socialist state that existed from 1922 to 1991. In the video, the Soviet Union plays a key role as it was the government that facilitated the use of lunar rovers in the Chernobyl cleanup, showcasing the country's scientific and technological capabilities during that time.

💡Rover Design

Rover design in the context of the video refers to the engineering and construction of the lunar rovers, which were originally designed for the moon's surface but were adapted for use in the Chernobyl disaster. The term is important as it underscores the innovative repurposing of technology in response to an unprecedented crisis.

Highlights

In Episode four of Chernobyl, a surprising use of Moon Rovers is depicted.

The Moon Rovers were used to clean up the roof of a reactor at Chernobyl.

The rovers were originally derived from the Soviet Lunokhod program.

The Lunokhod program sent two successful lunar rover missions to the moon between 1969 and 1977.

After the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, the cleanup was complicated by high radioactivity.

Lunar Rovers were chosen for their light weight and resistance to radiation.

The Soviet government brought retired engineers back to build the rovers for Chernobyl.

The rovers were able to operate on the reactor roof without damaging it.

The rovers were successful in their mission, earning awards for the designers.

Both rovers eventually failed due to the extreme radiation levels at Chernobyl.

Human workers, known as 'liquidators', were called in to finish the cleanup.

The rovers likely saved many lives by reducing human exposure to radiation.

There is a junkyard at Chernobyl filled with radioactive debris from the cleanup.

The rovers used at Chernobyl are still present in the junkyard today.

The rovers were not originally designed for the moon but were based on lunar rover designs.

The story of the rovers at Chernobyl is both fascinating and educational.