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US Navy Decommissions the First Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier (engadget.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Engadget: The Navy has decommissioned the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The vessel launched in 1961 and is mainly known for playing a pivotal role in several major incidents and conflicts, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War and the 2003 Iraq War. However, it also served as the quintessential showcase for what nuclear ships could do. Its eight reactors let it run for years at a time, all the while making more room for the aircraft and their fuel. As you might guess, the decommissioning process (which started when the Enterprise went inactive in 2012) is considerably trickier than it would be for a conventional warship. It wasn't until December 2016 that crews finished extracting nuclear fuel, and the ship will have to be partly dismantled to remove the reactors. They'll be disposed of relatively safely at Hanford Site, home of the world's first plutonium reactor. Whatever you think of the tech, the ship leaves a long legacy on top of its military accomplishments. It proved the viability of nuclear aircraft carriers, leading the US to build the largest such fleet in the world. Also, this definitely isn't the last (real-world) ship to bear the Enterprise name -- the future CVN-80 will build on its predecessor with both more efficient reactors and systems designed for modern combat, where drones and stealth are as important as fighters and bombers. It won't be ready until 2027, but it should reflect many of the lessons learned over the outgoing Enterprise's 55 years of service.
“Let’s make sure that history never forgets the name Enterprise. Picard out”
Enterprise had 8 A2W reactors so there was a lot of cutting and fuel removal that had to take place. In contrast, the next Enterprise will have 2 propulsion reactors. It would be nice if they can turn he into a museum somewhere, much like was done with the Nautilus.
I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
...it's the entire contents of the article, minus the ads and with Slashdot's wrapped around it instead. This is copyright theft, pure and simple, and this summary should be deleted and replaced with a much, MUCH more abbreviated version.
This should be replaced by a Canadian vessel, named--in keeping with Star Trek numbering--the Enterprise-eh.
For the curious, the US Navy has already decided on the next ship to be named the U.S.S. Enterprise. It will be the third Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carrier, scheduled to be laid down in 2018, launched in 2023, and commissioned in 2025. No word yet on whether it will be sent on a five-year mission afterwards.
:)
Personally, I wish they'd named the first ship of that class Enterprise, and let Ford be one of the latter ones, so it could be the "Enterprise Class." Ah well.
You have to admit... what army/navy/etc. would sink a nuclear ship in their own waters during war? You'd have to think twice about that - it could be a good deterrent to being attacked. If sunk, it could be a major issue in your region for generations to come.
I used to have a sig, but I set it free and it never came back.
My father pointed out to me that the nuclear carriers can be a great help after humanitarian disasters as they can desalinate large quantities of water. I found an article about the Carl Vincent that says that it can desalinate 400,000 gallons of water a day. We stationed it off the coast of Haiti after the earthquakes there.
http://content.time.com/time/s...
Team leader, this is team two. Come in, please.
I have the coordinates of the reactor.
Kirk here.
Admiral, we have found the nuclear wessel.
Well done, you two!
And Admiral... it is the *Enterprise*!
"I just heard some sad news on CNN - the US nuclear aircraft carrier USS Enterprise was found dead in its home port in Norfolk Virginia this morning. There weren't any more details. I'm sure everyone in the Slashdot community will miss it - even if you didn't enjoy its work, there's no denying his contributions to blowing shit up. Truly an American icon."
" They'll be disposed of relatively safely at the notoriously unsafe Hanford Site"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092007/quotes
Chekov: Admiral. We have found the nuclear wessel.
Kirk: Well done, Team two.
Chekov: And Admiral... it is the *Enterprise*.
[Kirk and Spock look at each other]
Kirk: Understood.
Looks like the Hanford site has had quite a few problems:
Hanford Nuclear Waste Cleanup Plant May Be Too Dangerous
https://www.scientificamerican...
Report finds serious defects at Hanford nuclear waste treatment plant
http://www.latimes.com/nation/...
I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
"We are looking for nuclear wessels"
Nope. When you die, you go to the afterworld and you will typically shed your body and live on as a disembodied being. But if you behaved well in your life and especially if you're a skilled martial arts fighter, you might get to keep your physical body. Then, you get to meet Kaio of the Galaxy's North quadrant and if you prove yourself worthy, master Kaio will teach you new techniques such as the very powerful but dangerous Kaio-ken. This will be very useful when you come back to life but for that your friends or family have to collect all seven Dragon Balls and summon Shenron, which can only be done once a year.
Are you that afraid of there appearing a Trump-class of ships some day?
It will be huge. And beautiful...
In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
Even Jesus said 'Jesus' when he read that.
Imagine if this sailing piece of radioactive shit got sunk, and spent eternity leaking nuclear waste into the ocean. Yes that's how fucking reckless you idiot yanks are.
There is a dirty little secret. Commercial ocean going ships pollute heavily. Our oceans are dying. Rather that switch to clean burning carbon neutral source of energy like nuclear power, you insist that you get your Fiji natural spring water carried to you on ocean liners burning diesel. These diesel freighters are all leaking massive amounts of petrochemicals into the ocean all the time due to leaky seals and gaskets. The have a special 'sorta' clean fuel they only use in your pristine California ports. The rest of the time they are burning the nastiest stuff imaginable.
I imagine that if it hadn't been to all you greenies that outlawed nuclear powered ocean liners in the 70's we would have a lot more fish in the ocean. A nuclear powered craft can run 13 years w/o refueling.
Fucking faggoty ass greeny liberals are destroying my planet.
I worked at a commercial company as a coop in college. I spent the better part of an afternoon on the Enterprise doing a site survey/inventory. It was truly and amazing site.
Why not give it to Canada? We do not have an aircraft carrier and I imagine we would jump at the opportunity of having a nuclear one.
I wonder if there's any possibility of this ship being used for civilian purposes? If it's good enough for carrying armed aircraft and hundreds of crewmen, it should be OK for doing the same minus the weapons.
Or... after all those years in service, will the Enterprise still have any shipbuilding secrets worth hiding?
Apart from the obvious use as a supervillain HQ, a large ship with helicopters and airplanes could be useful for rescue operations and support to places needing help following natural disasters (the "UNICEF aircraft carrier").
I wasnt aware there was one navy on the planet...
Since when did the chinese, russia and american navies all get merged into the "navy" ?
A quote that might or might not be germane:
Commander William T. Riker: Fate. Protects fools, little children and ships named Enterprise.
The autism-hating, custom EpiPen-hating, Musk-hating Slashdot troll!
How's life in the hypocrite lane?