Covering up

The Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test (DARHT) facility is an essential scientific tool that supports stockpile stewardship at the Laboratory. DARHT consists of two large x-ray machines that produce radiographs (high-powered x-ray images) of mock nuclear weapons that implode at speeds greater than 10,000 miles an hour. Such radiographs help scientists ensure that weapons in the stockpile are safe and effective and that—if ever necessary—they will perform as designed.

The area where the mock nuclear weapon is detonated inside a large, spherical confinement vessel is called the firing point, and until recently, the firing point has always been outside. Because of this exposure to the elements, DARHT tests have sometimes been delayed because of weather.

But no more. A new weather enclosure, currently under construction and scheduled for completion in April 2020, will encompass the firing point, creating a predictable and consistent environment for experiments. At the same time, it will shield the facility’s high-tech camera system and its other complex diagnostic equipment from rain, snow, wind, and other weather-related conditions.

“This project has multiple benefits—an increase in the number of experiments, a much safer work environment for our dedicated workforce, a better environment for our state-of-the-art equipment, and an environment conducive to higher-quality results, all of which support our essential stockpile stewardship mission,” says Terry Priestley, retired group leader for DARHT Operations. “We have a powerhouse team to ensure the project is completed on time and meets our objectives.” ★