The hope is to answer many pivotal questions about whether the nation's aging nuclear weapons still work as designed. Political Cartoons View All 1202 ImagesDuring the Cold War, those questions were answered by actually setting off nuclear explosions. The experimental machine the length of a football field eventually will sit 1,000 feet (304 meters) below the ground at the Nevada National Security Site. Custer said above-ground facilities have tested explosive behaviors of other materials but the Scorpius experiments will use real plutonium, which is unique. Assembly testing is planned through most of 2025 before the Nevada site will move the injector underground.

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Persons: haven't, Jon Custer, Custer, ” Custer, ”, “, Lawrence, Josh Leckbee, Dave Funk Organizations: —, Energy Department, Sandia, Sandia National Laboratories, , Energy Department, Nevada National Security, Los Alamos National Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Lab Locations: RENO, Nev, Albuquerque , New Mexico, New Mexico, Nevada, California, Las Vegas