Drones Capture Fukushima Reactor Images

0:00Hey, it's Corey with The Story, with Global News Today, the world's biggest stories every day. Tiny drones have captured the first clear images of the bottom of a reactor pressure vessel at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi plant since the meltdown 15 years ago. The footage from Unit 3 shows a large hole in the fixed steel container with chunks of what looks like melted fuel debris hanging from above. These palm-sized drones, about 12 by 13 centimeters, and weighing just 95 grams, flew inside for two weeks to gather visuals and… Radiation data. Operators from Tokyo Electric Power Company sent the drones in starting March 5th, navigating around debris and broken equipment in the containment chamber. This marks a big step forward from earlier probes they couldn't get as close or provide sharp pictures. The disaster struck on March 11th, 2011, when a massive earthquake and tsunami not-doubt cooling systems leading to meltdowns in three. Reactors and leaving at least 880 tons of highly radioactive fuel debris.

1:04Radiation levels inside remain too dangerous for humans or bigger machines. The mission-produced radiation readings and a detailed three-dimensional map of the reactor interior, helping map out obstacles for future work. Those confirmed the hanging objects as likely melted fuel, building on last year's small sample from Unit 2. This data will guide remote probes, sampling, and robot development for debris removal. A process experts say could stretch decades as they tackle the ongoing cleanup challenge.