et 7 he ") radia” REACTOR DEVELOPMENT OT _ Tests of SNAP-I isotope corea, less fuel, were conducted under simulated launch-fallure conditions. Prhile final evaluation of the data is not complete, preliminary results were satisfactory. Low velocity impact tests of these cores were begun at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland to gain information on atmospheric re-entry problems. Efforts to improve containment materials against mercury corrosion were intensified, Inpile experiments on the SNAP-II reactor fuel element indicate that the heat conductivity value may be higher than was predicted, If these results can be verified, the power capability of the core could be greatly increased, (End of S@EBRESY section.) of 3 to ARMY REACTORS on Army Package Power Reactors (APPR) aut APPR-1 (UNCLASSIFIED). Operation of the 2,000-electrical-kilowatt APPR-1 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was continued by Alco Products, Inc., under a jointly funded Army-AEC operating contract. On September 30 the APPR-1 had operated for 7,300 full-power hours, or 200n the 8.6 thermal megawatt years of its expected core life of 13 megawatt years, and had generated 14,600,000 }-tlowatt hours of electrical power. The primary research and development effort was directed toward the study of the buildup of long-lived radioactive nuclides contained in the corrosion particles which plate out on the walls of the primary system, particularly in the tubes of the steam generator, APPR-1A. Construction at Fort Greeley, Alaska, of the APPR-1A, the Army’s first field model reactor, patterned after the Fort Belvoir prototype, was approximately 25 percent complete. This plant will provide 2,000 electrical kilowatts and 12,300 kilowatts of space heat. Structural steel for the turbine building was In place, and the stainless steel Niner was installed in the spent fuel pit. Peter Kiewit Sons’ Company is the construction contractor for the Army. (End of UNCLASSIFIED section.) APPR-1B @05RMEM. Design work was initiated for the APPR-1B, an improved type of core syster: to be capable of producing 2.5 times the reactor heat of the present APPR-1 core and to have 2 minimum core life of one year at full power. Alco Products, Inc., is under contract to the AEC for the developmentof the core system, and under contract to the Army for an improvec APPR-1 type plant. The development of the improved core and plant was undertaken in response to an urgent requirement from the Department of Defense for a reliable, self-sutficient power plant with an electrical output of 5,000 to 7,000 kilowatts to meet power requirements at missile defense installations. Completion of the core design is required by June 30, 1850. (End of GSS section.) APPR-2 (UNCLASSIFIED). fSance The APPR-2 is to be located at an Air Force Control and Warning Stztion in the United States as selected by the Air Force on the basis of recommendations of a joint AEC-Air Force Site Screening Board. The jointly funded AEC—Air Force project is tc provide a factory-preassembled air-transportable prototype nuclear power plant. The plent will utilize a pressurized water reactor with a capacity of 10,000 thermal! kilowatts, and is to be capable of providing approximately 1,000 electrical kilowatts and 2,000 Kilowatts of space heat. The reactor will incorporate all possible advances in pressurized water technology in oreer to provide a plant optimized for military utilization. Invitations were prepared* calling for =roposals from industry for the design, development, fabrication, installation, and test operatizn of the plant. The estimated time for completion of the project was revised from two years tc two and one-half years. DOE ARCHIVES *Icvitaticas were ifesued October 10 calling for proposals to be submitted by December 1, 1958.