Did you know?
In 1978, a massive radioactive release occurred at the Piketon Atomic Plant after a shuttle carrier dropped a hot cylinder of uranium hexafluoride.
According to records from the accident, more than 26,000 pounds of uranium hexafluoride were released. Documents also revealed that approximately 1,500 pounds of uranium entered the Scioto River, while much of the remaining material reacted with moisture in the air, creating a hazardous airborne cloud of radioactive gas.
The full extent of the accident was not immediately made public. In fact, the community of Piketon was not notified of the accident until a year later, in 1979.
Below are images from the actual accident:
