Nuk-u-ler Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

The Seanachai: While we feel that Geocaching.com should hold the location for you for a reasonable amount of time, we cannot do so indefinitely. In light of the lack of communication regarding this cache it has been archived to free up the area for new placements. If you haven’t done so already, please pick up this cache or any remaining bits as soon as possible. Please note that geocaches archived by a reviewer or Geocaching HQ for lack of maintenance are not eligible for unarchival.

I want to thank you for the time that you have taken to contribute in the past and I look forward to your continued contributions to the sport of Geocaching.

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Hidden : 3/13/2010
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Psyprofs love history caches, and love aviation-themed caches. This cache brings together both history and aviation, as well as one of the stranger chapters in the Cold War, which played itself out across the river from this cache.

In 1944, the U.S. military began an experimental program designed to work out all the technical details necessary to begin production of nuclear powered aircraft. Two very good information sources on this history can be found at (visit link) and (visit link)
This idea had its genesis in talks held in the Manhattan Project in 1942. In 1946, the Nuclear Energy for Propulsion of Aircraft (NEPA) project got underway, headquartered at ORNL. ORNL was the site of much of the early developmental work on this project, and on April 27, 1949, a meeting took place at the Lab, which set the stage for the end of NEPA and the beginning of the Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion (ANP) project.

The aircraft envisioned for the nuclear engine was the Convair YB60. The engine was to be the General Electric P-1, an air cycle reactor through which air would flow, becoming superheated and then being ducted through four conventional GE XJ53 turbojet engines, with a rated thrust of 17,500 pounds each, approximately the thrust of all eight engines on the B52 of that era. The advantage of the nuclear engine was that it would be able to stay airborne indefinitely. The two technical issues that had to be overcome were shielding for the air crew and all that nasty radioactive contamination that would flow out the back of the turbines. An XB-39 aircraft actually flew several times with a hot reactor, though not providing propulsion. It was accompanied by a plane loaded with Marines; in the event of a crash, the Marines were to parachute to the crash site and secure the area.

As you stand at the cache and look across the river, you will see four towers in close proximity to one another. This was the test stand from which the air cycle reactor was suspended for a series of tests. You can see the reactor suspended in the picture that lies behind this cache page. Thanks to Team Geologynut for the tip on this location, and to our friend Bill Beard for telling us about the nuclear airplane program and the role of this tower in it.

Ultimately, AEP was poorly managed, the groups who were to work together on the project did not work well together, and a newer technology made the program obsolete- the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, or ICBM. However, do not breathe a sigh of relief that there will not be a bunch of dirty nuclear reactors in the skies over your head. An article in Times Online, dated October 27, 2008, details predictions by Dr. Ian Poll, Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Cranfield University, forecasting that nuclear powered aircraft will be commonplace by the middle of this century. (visit link)

The cache is named Nuk-u-ler in parody of the second President George Bush’s pronunciation of the word nuclear. It is a camo taped lock and lock with room for swag. BYOP.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Haqre ybjre raq obkjbbq

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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