We have thousands and thousands of old plutonium cores stored at the Pantex plant in Texas. Pantex ships them to Los Alamos, where they turn them into plutonium that can be reused to make new pits.

and dangerous!

well. Hazardous. Especially to workers.

Don't forget LONG!

My colleague @dkspaulding.bsky.social@nukestrat.bsky.socialwww.twz.com/nuclear/firs...

First Plutonium Pit For Nuclear Warhead Produced In The U.S. In 35 Years Is Now "Weapon-Ready"

Production of plutonium pits is one step in a long process to produce the new W87-1 thermonuclear warhead for the future Sentinel ICBM.

My colleague @dkspaulding.bsky.social@nukestrat.bsky.socialwww.twz.com/nuclear/firs...

First Plutonium Pit For Nuclear Warhead Produced In The U.S. In 35 Years Is Now "Weapon-Ready"

Production of plutonium pits is one step in a long process to produce the new W87-1 thermonuclear warhead for the future Sentinel ICBM.

Our colleagues at NukeWatch New Mexico, Tri-Valley CARES, Savannah River Site Watch and others filed the lawsuit that led to this important- and entirely sensible- ruling. Here is their statement: nukewatch.org/wp-content/u...

1st "diamond-stamped" pit approved since 2011, a 13 year gap. Some of that wait was Los Alamos lab, where it was made, pausing production in 2011. More delay was caused by extremely unsafe choices by lab employees. Some was delays caused by ongoing safety & training challenges. Many, many delays.

DSdkspaulding.bsky.socialOct 3, 2024 6:51pm

NNSA announced production of the first warhead-ready plutonium pit. A milestone? Yes, it's the first important step in a long process, but meeting the dangerous and unnecessary goal of 80 pits/year by 2030 is still unattainable - this doesn't change that.

NNSA completes and diamond-stamps first plutonium pit for W87-1 warhead

NNSA verified completion of the First Production Unit (FPU) of a plutonium pit for the W87-1 Modification Program. A plutonium pit is a necessary component in America’s nuclear warheads.

NNSA announced production of the first warhead-ready plutonium pit. A milestone? Yes, it's the first important step in a long process, but meeting the dangerous and unnecessary goal of 80 pits/year by 2030 is still unattainable - this doesn't change that.

NNSA completes and diamond-stamps first plutonium pit for W87-1 warhead

NNSA verified completion of the First Production Unit (FPU) of a plutonium pit for the W87-1 Modification Program. A plutonium pit is a necessary component in America’s nuclear warheads.

A new court decision will require NNSA to finally consider the cumulative environmental and health impacts of their biggest efforts since the Manhattan Project: plutonium pit production. NNSA skirted the rules and now they are being held accountable - this is a victory for transparency. (1/2)