Archived material Access restricted Article
Rantburg

Today's Front Page   View All of Wed 02/25/2009 View Tue 02/24/2009 View Mon 02/23/2009 View Sun 02/22/2009 View Sat 02/21/2009 View Fri 02/20/2009 View Thu 02/19/2009
1
2009-02-25 Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Syria has put missile facility on bombed nuke site
Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.
Posted by Fred 2009-02-25 00:00|| || Front Page|| [6 views ]  Top
 File under: Govt of Syria 

#1 man-made uranium
Huh?
Posted by Spot">Spot  2009-02-25 08:12||   2009-02-25 08:12|| Front Page Top

#2 But UN officials say it is too early to say whether the graphite - a common element in North Korean prototype reactors - had any nuclear applications.

Thereby showing abysmal ignorance of history: the first sustained nuclear chain reaction was achieved in a reactor built from graphite located under a soccer field in Chicago. the plutonium for the "Fat Man" bomb came from that reactor.

So how much boron was in the graphite? The Nazis were delayed in their fabrication of an atomic weaspon because their graphite had too much boron in it. They were forced to use heavy water, but couldn't make enough after the bombing mission on their heavy water plant that cost Joe Kennedy (John F. Kennedy's older brother) his life.
Posted by Ptah">Ptah  2009-02-25 10:13|| http://www.crusaderwarcollege.org]">[http://www.crusaderwarcollege.org]  2009-02-25 10:13|| Front Page Top

#3 man-made uranium
Huh?

U-233 probably.
Posted by lotp 2009-02-25 10:57||   2009-02-25 10:57|| Front Page Top

#4 They were forced to use heavy water, but couldn't make enough after the bombing mission on their heavy water plant that cost Joe Kennedy (John F. Kennedy's older brother) his life.


I never knew that. Thanks!
Posted by Seafarious 2009-02-25 11:36||   2009-02-25 11:36|| Front Page Top

#5 Man-made probably refers to >0.7% U235 in the sample. That indicates enrichment. You don't get U233 unless you bombard Thorium with neutrons in an operational reactor.
Posted by john frum 2009-02-25 12:06||   2009-02-25 12:06|| Front Page Top

#6 Actually, Joe was going after V-2's. And in an incredibly dangerous way...

England formed an elite group to destroy the launch sites, and asked for volunteers. Joseph Kennedy's squadron, flying in bitter winter weather over the Bay of Biscay, had suffered heavy casualties, with Joe losing his former co-pilot and a number of close friends. He was due for a leave but persuaded his crew to stay on until D-Day. Flying frequently in June and July they were given another opportunity to go home. Joe felt it would be unfair to ask his crew to remain any longer, so they returned to the U.S. Joe remained to volunteer for the very dangerous assignment which would require another month. Joe had completed probably more combat missions in B-24s than any other pilot and was well qualified. He considered his chances at fifty-fifty. Joe was an expert in Radio Control projects and was considered a natural to fly the "drone" in the highly secret mission. To destroy the V-2 menace it was decided to use radio controlled drones carrying massive bomb loads. The U.S. had been experimenting with R.C. drones, as had Germany, who was developing R.C. glider bombs. The X-1 rocket boostered bomb released from a German bomber could glide for six miles when released from 26,000 feet.

The X-1 demonstrated devastating results by sinking many Allied ships, showing the promising use and accuracy of the R.C. guided missile.The U.S. guided their missiles in test using operator-television, however the pay load was too small. They then advanced to full size Radio Controlled aircraft that after establishing control the pilot bailed out. The aircraft would fly to the target by remote control. The Army experimented with B-17s while the Navy made test using the B-24. Early U.S. test failed. Pilots were killed, and the drones missed their target. Despite the numerous failures the U.S. proceeded with their testing of full size aircraft.

Joe Kennedy saw his chance to become a hero. He was eager to go, and was a very experienced pilot. The system to be used was to load a B-24 with explosives, using two pilots, and the installation of an arming pin to prevent accidental ignition of the explosives. The target was Mimoyecques, France. A P-38 weather plane reported acceptable conditions, it was a go. Kennedy and his co-pilot Bud Willy took off at 5:55PM. The safety pin had been properly installed in the arming unit. Fourteen other aircraft gathered in formation with the "flying bomb". The lead plane was a B-17. There were two P-38s to accomplish aerial photography over the target. Also included were two Mosquito bombers, one to monitor weather, the other flown by Elliot Roosevelt, the son of the President of the United States. Another B-17 acted as a signal relay over the channel, with six P-51s as escort. The flying bomb was followed by two Lockheed Venturas which are believed to have been the "mother" guidance planes. This armada after hooking up in formation flew from Fersfield to Framingham, England, then to Beccles testing their RC equipment. Final test would be made with the B-24 flying alone on Radio Control. They flew from Beccles to Clacton, then took the final turn to head for the target. Both pilots were scheduled to bail out near Dover after preparing the plane to continue to the launch target guided by the mother plane. The actual flight plan called for a flyover Beccles but went further east than intended and flew over Blytheburgh. Kennedy made final preparations to set the plane on remote control. He removed the safety pin, and signaled O.K. with the code phrase "Stay Flush". These would be his last words as the plane exploded at 6:20PM over Blytheburgh.
Posted by tu3031 2009-02-25 12:09||   2009-02-25 12:09|| Front Page Top

#7 Perhaps they sited it there for good luck?
Posted by Richard of Oregon 2009-02-25 13:34||   2009-02-25 13:34|| Front Page Top

#8 The Syrian reactor the Israelis destroyed was a copy of the North Korean Yongbyon plutonium producing reactor. It used natural uranium and graphite was the moderator. So not sure about the "man-made" uranium unless it was fueled with low enriched uranium from Iran.
Posted by ed 2009-02-25 14:05||   2009-02-25 14:05|| Front Page Top

#9 ION EXPLOSIVE SPACE MUDULATOR-R-R, RIAN > IRAN desires to have up to 50,000 centrifuges at its NATANTZ NucPlant within five years [2012-13].

Also, TOPIX > IRAN NUCLEAR CHIEF: US, WEST MUST ACCEPT IRAN IS A NUCLEAR POWER.
Posted by JosephMendiola 2009-02-25 22:01||   2009-02-25 22:01|| Front Page Top

23:44 abu do you love
23:24 Thing From Snowy Mountain
23:17 Omerenter Henbane5221
23:13 Formerly Dan
23:06 Skunky Glins 5***
23:01 trailing wife
22:58 ryuge
22:58 Skunky Glins 5***
22:05 Rambler in Virginia
22:05 Mike
22:01 JosephMendiola
21:32 Eric Jablow
21:30 lotp
21:24 tu3031
21:18 3dc
21:15 Rambler in Virginia
21:14 Pappy
21:11 Pappy
21:10 Angeans Turkeyneck1374
21:02 3dc
21:01 tu3031
20:55 SteveS
20:52 tu3031
20:50 rammer









Paypal:
Google
Search WWW Search rantburg.com