1 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:04,951 MALE NARRATOR: The history of the 20th century 2 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:09,034 was transformed by the dawn of the nuclear age. 3 00:00:09,120 --> 00:00:13,079 Pioneered as a destructive force, but harnessed as a positive energy, 4 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:15,913 the path from Enrico Fermi's chain reaction 5 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:17,832 to the disaster at Chernobyl, 6 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,390 bears testimony to the volatile and unpredictable force 7 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:23,118 of nuclear power. 8 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:26,709 This is a dramatic reconstruction of events 9 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:30,794 as they happened on two days that shook the world. 10 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,233 It is December 2nd, 1942. 11 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:43,469 In Amsterdam, Anne Frank and her family 12 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:46,313 have been in hiding for the past four months. 13 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:50,553 In North Africa, Field Marshal Montgomery and his desert rats 14 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:54,349 have won a famous victory over Rommel at El Alamein. 15 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:57,831 In New York City, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman 16 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,356 appear at the premiere of the new movie release, Casablanca. 17 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:03,158 And in Chicago, Illinois, 18 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:06,995 a group of scientists are about to change the world forever. 19 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:17,430 It's early morning, December 2nd, in the bleak Chicago winter of 1942. 20 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:23,514 It is bitterly cold, well below zero. 21 00:01:23,960 --> 00:01:27,749 And, to make matters worse, this morning there is a gas shortage. 22 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:31,629 Wartime rationing is affecting dally life all across America. 23 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:39,476 29-year-old Albert Wattenberg, 24 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,837 is on his way to work at the University of Chicago. 25 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:50,478 Al Wattenberg is a physics PhD student. He's heading for a secret laboratory 26 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,518 built underneath the stands of Stagg sports field 27 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:56,114 on the University of Chicago campus. 28 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,673 Albert is a member of an elite team of scientists 29 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:08,355 who are working on a top secret and highly dangerous experiment, 30 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:12,559 an experiment that could change the course of the Second World War. 31 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:18,480 ALBERT: All we did was work and sleep. 32 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,074 Sometimes we thought of why we were doing it 33 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:24,949 Several times we discussed what we would do if the Nazis won. 34 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:27,993 Where would we hide in the United States? 35 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:31,358 We were certain we would be killed, if we were caught 36 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,478 NARRATOR: The man in charge of the project is an Italian physicist 37 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:44,597 called Enrico Fermi. 38 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:47,240 After years of pioneering research, 39 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:51,837 Fermi will today begin an unprecedented and potentially lethal experiment. 40 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:55,312 Within the confines of this dingy and dusty squash court, 41 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:57,516 he will attempt to become the first man ever 42 00:02:57,600 --> 00:02:59,591 to harness atomic energy. 43 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,950 In 1939, the eminent scientist, Albert Einstein 44 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:09,352 wrote to President Roosevelt about the Italian physicist, Enrico Fermi. 45 00:03:14,920 --> 00:03:18,800 Einstein recommended Fermi's research, which explored the possibility 46 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:22,271 of using uranium to trigger a nuclear chain reaction, 47 00:03:22,640 --> 00:03:26,235 a process that could create extremely powerful bombs 48 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:28,550 of a new and devastating type. 49 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:31,118 Einstein urged Roosevelt 50 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,352 to fund American research into nuclear chain reactions 51 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:36,716 and warned him that the Germans could be close 52 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,076 to the same scientific breakthrough. 53 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:46,549 In September 1942, President Roosevelt acted on Einstein's advice. 54 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:49,632 He gave the go-ahead for a covert bomb project, 55 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:52,519 code name, the Manhattan Engineer District 56 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:54,354 (PEOPLE SHOUTING) 57 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:56,556 The race was on to beat the Nazis 58 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:59,519 to developing the world's first atomic bomb. 59 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:07,279 The head of the German atomic bomb project was Werner Heisenberg, 60 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:10,830 a former colleague of Fermi from his days back in Rome. 61 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,273 Heisenberg's own research was also well advanced. 62 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:15,873 In September of 1942, 63 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:19,794 during a meeting with the leading physicist, Niels Bohr, 64 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:23,510 he had scribbled a drawing of a prototype nuclear reactor. 65 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:28,279 It seemed only a matter of time before the Germans had the bomb. 66 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,151 Today, December 2nd, 1942, 67 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,756 US troops have suffered heavy casualties at Guadalcanal, 68 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:40,832 fighting the Japanese. 69 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:44,552 It's almost a year since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 70 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,792 which prompted America to join the Allied effort. 71 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:51,596 Everyone wants an end to the war and quickly. 72 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:02,631 Enrico Fermi ls the driving force 73 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:05,997 behind the next key phase of the Manhattan Project. 74 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:10,792 Fermi and his team began working on the project at Columbia University, 75 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:13,912 situated on Manhattan Island in New York City 76 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:18,674 But in the spring of 1942, they relocated to consolidate their work 77 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:21,195 under the guise of the metallurgy laboratory 78 00:05:21,280 --> 00:05:23,794 on the University of Chicago campus. 79 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:30,398 An incredible sequence of scientific breakthroughs 80 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:33,791 has culminated in today's chain reaction experiment. 81 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:38,234 As long ago as 1934, during his research back in Rome, 82 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:40,914 Enrico Fermi discovered nuclear fission 83 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,879 when he successfully split the uranium atom. 84 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:48,273 In today's experiment, Fermi aims to prove 85 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,113 that when a neutron is fired at a uranium atom, 86 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:55,831 It splits into more neutrons, which, in turn, splits into more atoms 87 00:05:55,920 --> 00:06:00,391 and creates more neutrons, until the process is self-perpetuating. 88 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:02,915 This is known as a chain reaction. 89 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:06,556 Splitting one atom releases energy, but Fermi believes 90 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,917 that, by splitting billions of atoms through a chain reaction, 91 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,719 you could create enormous amounts of energy. 92 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:14,154 Enough energy, in fact, 93 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,710 to produce a devastating bomb, unlike any other. 94 00:06:20,280 --> 00:06:21,839 There is an air of excitement 95 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,993 as Fermi and his protégé Leona Woods enter the dark squash court 96 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,839 The air is thick with dust from the graphite bricks, 97 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:32,639 which are used to house the volatile materials. 98 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:34,836 FERMI: Welcome to hell's kitchen. 99 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:36,797 NARRATOR: Inside the squash court, 100 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:40,555 they are greeted by Walter Zinn and Volney Wilson. 101 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:42,551 Our projections are right on the money. 102 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:45,951 Zinn and Wilson are two members of Fermi's elite team 103 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:47,599 of experimental physicists. 104 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:51,639 Over the past few weeks, Fermi and his team have been constructing 105 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:54,030 what looks like a giant beehive. 106 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,433 This unassuming structure, known as a pile, 107 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:01,634 is, in fact, the culmination of years of theoretical research. 108 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:04,070 It has cost well over a million dollars, 109 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:08,677 but this will be a small price to pay if today's experiment is successful 110 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:14,190 Canadian physicist Walter Zinn has overseen the construction of the pile. 111 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:15,714 Okay, good. 112 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:18,950 His crew includes half a dozen students, 113 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:22,192 a local carpenter, and some high-school dropouts. 114 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:24,079 The back-of-the-yard boys 115 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:27,357 from the tough neighbourhood beyond the Chicago stockyards. 116 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:29,397 ZINN: Okay, excellent. Okay, now... 117 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:32,074 They have been cutting graphite bricks for weeks now. 118 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:37,590 These bars had to be machined 119 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:42,038 and we set up a machining facility. 120 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,874 The word facility is a little bit grand for what we had. 121 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:50,954 We put some machines and some ventilation into a room 122 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:56,833 in the squash courts and proceeded to square up the bars 123 00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:59,355 and cut them to the right lengths. 124 00:07:59,880 --> 00:08:02,190 NARRATOR: In preparation for today's experiment, 125 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:06,558 22,000 disks of uranium oxide have been inserted into holes 126 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:09,314 cut into 400 tonnes of graphite bricks. 127 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:13,272 The design of the pile has been carefully worked out 128 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:15,600 MAN ON TV: In the middle, where it will do the most good, 129 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:17,870 we will put the uranium metal 130 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:23,389 Around this, we will put the weaker uranium oxide formed in lumps 131 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:26,479 and between these, the graphite moderator. 132 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:29,354 Under and around the graphite is wood 133 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,751 to carry the load and fill in the corners of the big block. 134 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:38,119 NARRATOR: The vital part of the pile's design is a control mechanism 135 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:41,795 to stop a nuclear chain reaction occurring spontaneously. 136 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:46,272 MAN ON TV: Because if it works, this pile, Chicago Pile Number One, 137 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,034 will need to be controlled. Here's how. 138 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:52,349 Into the pile, we will add rods of cadmium, 139 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,317 which soak up neutrons. 140 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:58,189 As long as these rods are in the pile, there can be no reaction. 141 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:00,920 But pull them out, push them in, 142 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:06,558 these are the control rods, which will turn it on and turn it off. 143 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:15,836 NARRATOR: The pile of graphite blocks is 57 layers high. 144 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,640 It's now big enough and contains enough uranium 145 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:21,870 to sustain a chain reaction. 146 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:26,075 In scientific terms, it has reached critical mass. 147 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,670 Despite years of research, nobody has ever attempted to start, 148 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:34,310 let alone control, a nuclear chain reaction. 149 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:38,394 Today's experiment could be transformed into a horrific accident 150 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:42,510 But to the young physicists on the team, Fermi is a genius. 151 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:44,511 They believe they are working on the coolest, 152 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:47,069 most exciting project in the world. 153 00:09:47,560 --> 00:09:50,439 Once asked how he rated himself from 0 to 100, 154 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:54,798 Fermi said, "Einstein was 100 but I am 99." 155 00:09:57,960 --> 00:10:01,032 Enrico Fermi was born in Rome in 1901. 156 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:05,395 His interest in science developed when his older brother, Giulio, 157 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,154 died suddenly on the operating table during surgery 158 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:10,311 for a minor throat abscess. 159 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:14,599 Enrico was only 14 and they were only a year apart in age. 160 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:20,356 Enrico and Giulio would search the second-hand markets together 161 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:24,911 looking for magnets and wire, batteries and switches and physics books. 162 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:27,834 They read about motors and induction coils, 163 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:32,357 transformers and voltage supplies and together they built these devices. 164 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:36,998 They were always pleasantly surprised when their constructions worked. 165 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:41,989 Enrico was left isolated and lonely following Giulio's death. 166 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:45,876 He found the works of a Jesuit physicist written in Latin. 167 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:49,919 They excited the desolate boy and he read them straight through. 168 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:52,791 He later told his sister, Marla, 169 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:55,679 that he hadn't noticed they were in Latin. 170 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:59,835 From this point on, his development as a scientist took off. 171 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,909 A family friend recommended he studied at the University of Pisa 172 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:07,277 and it was at Pisa that his academic career soared. 173 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:17,158 Chicago Pile Number One, 174 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:19,959 the world's first nuclear reactor is now complete. 175 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:21,678 (MACHINE BEEPING) 176 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:25,392 Herb Anderson would not have missed today for the world. 177 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:27,949 He is one of the key members of Fermi's team 178 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:32,318 and has been with him since the early research days back in Manhattan. 179 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:35,476 Fermi's team work in two shifts. 180 00:11:35,560 --> 00:11:37,870 The day crew is supervised by Walter Zinn 181 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:40,156 and the night crew by Herb Anderson. 182 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:44,234 There is a friendly, but intense, rivalry between the two shifts. 183 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:47,560 My objective was always to equal 184 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:50,792 or better the performance of Zinn during the day. 185 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:55,790 So my group always put on the same number or one more layer, 186 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:58,110 and then we went home. 187 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:00,840 So it wasn't really a 24-hour shift, 188 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:05,198 but it was more like 16 or 18 hours or something like that 189 00:12:05,560 --> 00:12:06,789 FERMI: Ciao, Herb. 190 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,200 NARRATOR: Herb Anderson has been working through the night, 191 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:10,753 assembling the final layer. 192 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:14,196 - FERMI: Have you had a very busy night? - You know it. 193 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:16,835 The few hours of rest he's managed to get 194 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:19,389 have been filled with anticipation. 195 00:12:21,680 --> 00:12:24,240 Later today, he hopes to make history. 196 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:26,789 FERMI: Okay, let's go to breakfast. 197 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:31,918 Leona Woods is the only female member of the team, 198 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:34,310 but she holds her own with all the men. 199 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:36,391 A tall, shy, athletic girl, 200 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:40,110 she's become accustomed to the male-dominated environment 201 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:43,671 Wally Zinn wouldn't let me work in the squash courts, 202 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:45,990 because, you see, everybody wore overalls 203 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:49,789 and goggles and a mask against the dust 204 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:53,396 So everyone looked alike. And a miner's cap, you know, 205 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:57,075 a regular striped, blue, ticking workman's cap. 206 00:12:57,160 --> 00:12:58,480 So everyone looked alike. 207 00:12:58,560 --> 00:13:02,679 And he said, in case he had to say nasty words at somebody, 208 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:05,036 he didn't want it to be a girl 209 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:08,192 So I was excluded from the actual construction, 210 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:10,999 although I was in and out everyday with calibrations 211 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:15,950 and measuring the growing neutron flux of the reactor 212 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:17,951 as it added, layer by layer. 213 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:24,110 NARRATOR: Leona Woods has invented one of the world's first Geiger counters 214 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,794 to measure the number of neutrons in the pile. 215 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:32,752 Already at Chicago, she joined the team when they arrived in the spring. 216 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,989 She's since become a lynchpin of the project 217 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:39,913 and is now responsible for all the numerical calculations 218 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:42,389 behind Fermi's scientific theory. 219 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:47,551 MAN ON RADIO: Viewing the war outlook is the brightest in three years. 220 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:49,950 Secretary of Navy, Knox, disclosed today 221 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:54,477 that Japanese casualties are believed to be five times greater than America's 222 00:13:54,560 --> 00:13:57,598 and that the US Navy is larger and more powerful 223 00:13:57,680 --> 00:14:01,594 than the day before Pearl Harbor. Balancing the nation... 224 00:14:01,680 --> 00:14:03,398 NARRATOR: Fermi and Herb Anderson 225 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:06,836 listened to the latest war developments on the radio. 226 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,553 The team has got a busy day ahead of them 227 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:14,111 and Leona nervously and hurriedly prepares breakfast 228 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:18,040 LEONA: I made pancakes, mixing the batter so fast 229 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:20,953 that there were bubbles of dry flour in it 230 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:24,152 When fried, they were somewhat crunchy between the teeth 231 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:26,754 and Herb thought I'd put nuts in it 232 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:31,596 NARRATOR: Enrico Fermi, Leona Woods and Herb Anderson 233 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:33,558 have become a tight-knit trio, 234 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,996 bonded by their intense and highly confidential work. 235 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:39,795 HERB: He said he certainly got a great deal of pleasure 236 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:41,757 out of living and doing things. 237 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,753 In a sense, this was very infectious. 238 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:48,549 He loved to walk, to climb mountains, to swim. 239 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:53,477 One thing we did in Chicago was every day, without fall, during the summer, 240 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:55,710 swim in Lake Michigan. 241 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:03,950 Fermi and the other classified physicists working on the project 242 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:06,714 cannot tell their wives or their families anything 243 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:08,950 about their top-secret work. 244 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:14,154 They are forbidden from discussing what they are developing 245 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:16,800 under the cover of the metallurgy laboratory. 246 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:22,036 They only have each other for support and camaraderie. 247 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:34,776 MAN ON RADIO: This morning, the State Department announced 248 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:37,758 that two million Jews have perished in Europe. 249 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:40,150 Five million more are in danger. 250 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:44,033 NARRATOR: Fermi's thoughts turn to recent world events 251 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:47,431 and he reflects on the hand that fate has dealt him. 252 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:51,598 Enrico Fermi, his wife Laura, and their two children 253 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:56,754 had fled fascist Italy in 1938, leaving the eternal splendour of Rome 254 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:59,639 for the new world of opportunity, America. 255 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:06,149 (SPEAKING ITALIAN) 256 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:10,638 Following the rise of fascism in western Europe, 257 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:12,518 the Duce, Mussolini, 258 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:15,797 welcomed Adolf Hitler to Rome in May 1938. 259 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:20,990 That summer brought the anti-Semitic Manifesto della Razza, 260 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:23,913 which proclaimed, "Italians are Aryans." 261 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,753 "Jews do not belong to the Italian race." 262 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:28,999 The Fermis' two children 263 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:30,800 might have been exempted from these new laws 264 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:34,475 as they were Catholic, but his wife Laura was a Jew. 265 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:40,632 Fermi wrote in secret to American universities 266 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:45,233 and he was offered a professorship at Columbia University in New York. 267 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:49,553 That same year, the eminent Danish physicist, Niels Bohr, 268 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:53,156 tipped him off that he was selected for the Nobel Prize. 269 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:56,631 Enrico Fermi faced the biggest decision of his life. 270 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:01,877 On November 10th, 1938, he received a phone call confirming 271 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:04,679 that he had won the Nobel Prize for Physics. 272 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:07,434 The Fermi family travelled to Stockholm. 273 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:10,478 From Sweden, they escaped to the United States. 274 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:12,710 It wasn't a moment too soon. 275 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:15,238 Mussolini was outraged 276 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:18,438 that Fermi had not worn a military uniform at the ceremony 277 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,273 and had failed to give a fascist salute. 278 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:26,070 Had Fermi returned to Italy, 279 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:29,994 he would almost certainly have been forced to work for Hitler. 280 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:33,159 Since the Fermi family landed in America, 281 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:36,039 the plight of Jews in Europe had worsened. 282 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:41,634 In Italy, Jews were deprived of full citizen rights 283 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,469 and their passports were withdrawn. 284 00:17:50,360 --> 00:17:53,671 Even Fermi's father-in-law, Admiral Capon, 285 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:56,639 had been taken away to a concentration camp. 286 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:09,077 Fermi knows that the Nazis could be one step ahead 287 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,471 in the race to build the bomb, a nightmare scenario. 288 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:15,989 But if today's experiment is successful, 289 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:18,640 it will be a giant step forward in the Allies' effort 290 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:20,996 to defeat Hitler's war machine. 291 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:22,593 (PEOPLE CHATTERING) 292 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:27,554 The stage is now set for the boldest experiment in human history. 293 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:30,071 No one has ever done this before. 294 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:32,549 Enrico Fermi will be the first man 295 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:36,235 to attempt to release and control atomic energy. 296 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:43,231 He orders the electrically-operated control rods to be withdrawn. 297 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:44,958 (MACHINE BEEPING) 298 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:52,554 If the experiment is successful, Fermi will have proved 299 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:55,792 that a nuclear chain reaction is possible. 300 00:18:55,880 --> 00:19:00,477 If anything goes wrong, it could cost Fermi and his team their lives. 301 00:19:03,120 --> 00:19:06,272 Leona's Geiger counter will count the neutrons. 302 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:09,195 If the neutron count gets higher and faster, 303 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:12,159 she will know that the chain reaction is happening. 304 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:15,040 Three young students climb on top of the pile. 305 00:19:15,120 --> 00:19:16,519 They will act as firemen, 306 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:19,035 in case the chain reaction runs out of control, 307 00:19:19,120 --> 00:19:23,273 on standby with jugs of cadmium sulphate solution. 308 00:19:23,360 --> 00:19:26,955 It is hoped that the cadmium solution will stop the pile overheating 309 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:28,951 and prevent a meltdown. 310 00:19:29,120 --> 00:19:32,158 The students are known as the suicide squad. 311 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:35,118 Two, three. 312 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:38,352 There is only one remaining control rod in the pile, 313 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:41,319 which is operated manually on Fermi's order. 314 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:45,110 This final rod is holding the chain reaction in check 315 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:47,794 until it is withdrawn the proper distance. 316 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:51,874 This single rod will act as the starter, accelerator, 317 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:53,678 and break for the chain reaction. 318 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:54,830 Two. Two. 319 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:01,270 Fermi instructs the removal of the rod halfway out 320 00:20:01,360 --> 00:20:04,910 All eyes are on Leona as she begins the neutron count. 321 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:08,398 The counter increases its clicking and then steadies. 322 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:09,914 LEONA: Three. 323 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:12,549 Three. 324 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:18,118 Another six inches. 325 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:22,274 NARRATOR: The rod is pulled out further. 326 00:20:22,360 --> 00:20:23,680 Eight. Twelve. 327 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:25,239 There is a nervous hush 328 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:29,279 as Fermi checks his calculations on his ever-present slide rule. 329 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:30,789 LEONA: Forty four. 330 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:32,393 Everything is going to plan. 331 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:35,074 Sixty eight. Sixty eight. 332 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:36,834 Eighty four. 333 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:39,912 (ALARM RINGING) 334 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:46,675 Suddenly, an emergency safely rod is automatically released. 335 00:20:48,360 --> 00:20:51,159 The automatic shutdown has been set too low 336 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:54,950 and the neutron count is going higher than they predicted. 337 00:20:57,000 --> 00:21:01,790 Safety circuits, which had been set to a certain maximum flux, 338 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:06,795 began to give a bell signal and that.. 339 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:08,029 (ALARM BELL RINGING) 340 00:21:08,120 --> 00:21:10,191 But people wanted still to go a little higher, 341 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:13,910 so they simply pulled the wires off the bell signal, 342 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:15,274 so it wouldn't ring. 343 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:19,749 LEONA: Twelve. 344 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:23,549 NARRATOR: A crowd begins to gather on the balcony of the squash court 345 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:26,359 Senior scientists on the Manhattan Project 346 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:29,080 and representatives of the US military arrive, 347 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:32,198 anxious to witness today's historic experiment. 348 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:37,230 No one photographed the scene. 349 00:21:39,120 --> 00:21:42,795 The results would be immediately conveyed to the President 350 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:46,070 All eyes are on the pile. 351 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:49,878 Another one foot. 352 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,999 The control rod is moved out another foot 353 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:58,594 The neutron count continues to rise. 354 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:01,672 Sixty two. Sixty eight. 355 00:22:02,360 --> 00:22:03,759 Seventy two. 356 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:07,438 Another six inches. 357 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:10,715 LEONA: Seventy two. Seventy three. 358 00:22:12,120 --> 00:22:15,192 Eighty four. Eighty seven. 359 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:18,393 (MACHINE BUZZING) 360 00:22:22,360 --> 00:22:24,112 Another five inches. 361 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:28,230 Fermi makes another calculation. 362 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:32,234 He knows that the experiment is entering a make-or-break phase. 363 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:37,669 If the neutron count doesn't level off, but continues to rise, 364 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:41,355 the pile will go critical and the team will have achieved 365 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:44,632 the world's first self-sustaining chain reaction. 366 00:22:45,360 --> 00:22:49,672 By now, Leona Woods can't keep up with the speed of the Geiger counter. 367 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:52,718 Fermi knows that this is the moment of truth. 368 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:03,798 It's gone critical 369 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:10,478 It's gone critical 370 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:22,554 The world's first self-sustained nuclear chain reaction has been achieved, 371 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:25,951 but Fermi still has to prove that he can control it 372 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:30,311 Radiation is now being released from the atomic pile. 373 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:32,073 Everyone watches anxiously. 374 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:36,313 Each wondering if the experiment is about to spiral out of control 375 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:41,234 if Fermi leaves the pile uncontrolled for too long, 376 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:45,029 there will be a runaway chain reaction, a meltdown. 377 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:49,755 FERMI: If the reactor goes unchecked for a few hours, 378 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:53,071 then the rate of the reaction is so great 379 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:55,151 the mass becomes red hot 380 00:23:55,240 --> 00:24:00,269 and everyone in the room would be killed by the intensity of its radiation. 381 00:24:00,360 --> 00:24:03,796 So we thought it would be a good idea to control the reaction. 382 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:08,236 (COUNTER CLICKING) 383 00:24:08,320 --> 00:24:12,473 NARRATOR: After 28 minutes, Fermi orders the reactor to be shutdown. 384 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:14,910 The control rods are replaced. 385 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:17,271 The neutron count begins to fall 386 00:24:17,360 --> 00:24:21,513 and the rattle of the Geiger counter is now just a series of clicks. 387 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:26,755 Man has operated the world's first nuclear reactor. 388 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:30,834 For the first time, the energy of the atom has been harnessed. 389 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:36,520 LEONA: It was quite clear 390 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:39,194 it was the answer to everyone's hopes and dreams. 391 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:42,796 There was absolutely dead silence. Nobody said anything. 392 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:48,712 Eugene Wigner showed up with a bottle of Chianti. 393 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:53,476 We poured it into cups and we all drank it very quietly. 394 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:03,438 I'm sure everyone was thinking immediately ahead to the bomb, 395 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:05,272 from that minute on. 396 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:16,677 LEONA: Well, the thing is, Professor, today's experiment went extremely well, 397 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:18,239 but what we've got to realise 398 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:20,914 is that the Germans have probably already done this experiment. 399 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:23,400 And what is it going to take for us to get our acts together? 400 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:25,750 I mean, I'm extremely concerned. 401 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,551 FERMI: Al, good night. I'll let you lock up as usual 402 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:34,039 NARRATOR: Twelve days after Enrico Fermi and his team 403 00:25:34,120 --> 00:25:38,114 accomplished the first chain reaction with Chicago Pile Number One, 404 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:44,318 construction of the world's first large-scale nuclear reactors began. 405 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:47,320 The site was at Hanford, Washington State, 406 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:49,869 on the banks of the Columbia River. 407 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:52,110 MAN ON TV: In the bright desert sunshine, 408 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:55,636 the sombre shape of the mammoth-sized secret plant 409 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:57,916 began to mushroom up and out 410 00:26:03,120 --> 00:26:05,350 What had been built by the Dupont Company 411 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:07,511 for the Manhattan Engineer District, 412 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:10,877 were three Fermi-type nuclear reactors, 413 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:13,916 scaled up from the one Doctor Fermi had built 414 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:16,753 under the University of Chicago stadium. 415 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:24,396 NARRATOR: Leona Woods will later go to Hanford 416 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:27,029 to work on these giant reactors. 417 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:30,795 One of the few women physicists on the Manhattan Project. 418 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:34,356 She supports atomic energy throughout her life, 419 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:37,159 until her death in 1986. 420 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:45,751 Herb Anderson will go on to work at Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico 421 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:47,751 alongside Enrico Fermi. 422 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:52,599 Together, they will develop a more violent and explosive chain reaction. 423 00:26:54,360 --> 00:26:57,796 At dawn, on 16th July, 1945, 424 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:00,679 the Manhattan Project will realise their goal, 425 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:05,072 Trinity, the creation and explosion of the first atomic bomb. 426 00:27:20,120 --> 00:27:23,795 Fermi will claim he didn't hear the huge explosion. 427 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:26,520 He was too busy throwing bits of paper up in the air 428 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:28,398 to measure the blast. 429 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:34,555 On 6th August, 1945, 430 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:38,237 a combat atomic bomb will be dropped on Hiroshima, 431 00:27:38,360 --> 00:27:41,318 with a second three days later over Nagasaki, 432 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:43,118 forcing Japan to surrender 433 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:46,079 and bringing an end to the Second World War. 434 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:54,151 After the war, Enrico Fermi will return to Chicago, 435 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:58,791 disillusioned by the seamless transition of the Manhattan Project 436 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:00,871 into a nuclear arms race. 437 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:04,593 Fermi refuses to support 438 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:07,638 the subsequent development of the hydrogen bomb. 439 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:12,032 He dies of cancer in 1954, aged just 53. 440 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:19,277 Al Wattenberg later becomes Professor of Physics 441 00:28:19,360 --> 00:28:21,590 at the University of Illinois. 442 00:28:23,120 --> 00:28:25,236 He keeps the famous Chianti bottle 443 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:29,075 as a memory of the part he played in Fermi's chain reaction. 444 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:43,390 It is April 26th, 1986. At the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, 445 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:46,598 the Challenger Space Shuttle has exploded on takeoff. 446 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:50,833 Swedish Prime Minister, Olof Palme, has been shot dead in Stockholm. 447 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:53,640 South African commandos have launched raids 448 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:55,870 on ANC bases across Africa. 449 00:28:56,440 --> 00:28:58,795 And near the Ukrainian town of Pripyat, 450 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:02,271 the most serious setback to the nuclear age is about to occur. 451 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:11,991 With a population of over 40,000 and an average age of just 26, 452 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:14,674 Pripyat is a young and aspiring town. 453 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:21,471 Every year, over 1,000 babies are born here. 454 00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:24,555 It's an unusually hot April morning 455 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:27,837 and parents and children are outside enjoying the weather. 456 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:33,598 Pripyat is confidently stepping out into the future. 457 00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:37,230 There's a new secondary school, a hotel, a cinema 458 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:40,278 and even an amusement park on the drive into town. 459 00:29:48,320 --> 00:29:51,358 Vastly Ignatenko is a local fireman. 460 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:55,234 He and his 24-year-old wife, Ludmilla 461 00:29:55,320 --> 00:29:58,073 moved to Pripyat when they married two years ago. 462 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:04,156 (SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN) 463 00:30:12,560 --> 00:30:15,518 This Friday afternoon, they are enjoying a picnic 464 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:19,070 with two friends who work at Chernobyl, the local power station. 465 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:25,636 Vastly and Ludmilla are optimistic about the future. 466 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:28,917 Vastly is up for promotion 467 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:31,435 and with their first baby expected in June, 468 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:33,909 they are about to move from a communal flat 469 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:36,230 into their very own apartment. 470 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:39,679 Pripyat is a new town, built for the workers employed 471 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:42,752 at the nearby Chernobyl nuclear power station. 472 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:47,152 Block 4, containing a fourth nuclear reactor, 473 00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:49,072 has only recently been completed 474 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:51,959 and promises more prosperity for the area. 475 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:55,834 But the sunny confidence in this atomgrad, 476 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:59,276 or atomic city, masks a darker reality. 477 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:08,672 Alarmed by the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 478 00:31:08,760 --> 00:31:11,115 the Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin, 479 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:15,671 ordered his nuclear scientists to go all out to build the Red Bomb. 480 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:19,599 The program was led by Igor Kurchatov, 481 00:31:19,680 --> 00:31:22,513 who built the first Soviet nuclear reactor. 482 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:29,278 A network of secret cities with nuclear reactors was quickly built. 483 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:34,873 These atom towns produced plutonium for the Soviet Union's war machine 484 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:38,955 and provided atomic energy for the largest country on Earth. 485 00:31:39,840 --> 00:31:42,958 But in the rush to achieve nuclear parity with the West, 486 00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:46,032 many corners were cut in design and safety. 487 00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:56,270 Just four years later, in August 1949, 488 00:31:56,360 --> 00:32:00,115 the Soviet Union had built and tested its first atomic bomb. 489 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:13,032 The Director of the Chernobyl plant, Viktor Bryukhanov, 490 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:17,114 and his chief engineer, Nikolai Fomin, report for duty. 491 00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:21,875 They are responsible for running the flagship 492 00:32:21,960 --> 00:32:24,474 of the Soviet Union's nuclear fleet. 493 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:29,317 But today, they've got a problem. The Chernobyl power station 494 00:32:29,400 --> 00:32:32,233 has four separate nuclear reactors on site. 495 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:36,710 Three years ago, in the summer of 1983, 496 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:40,634 Viktor Bryukhanov came under pressure from Communist Party officials 497 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:45,317 to put Reactor Number 4 into full commercial operation early, 498 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:48,358 without completing the necessary safely test 499 00:32:49,000 --> 00:32:50,752 If he hadn't agreed to do so, 500 00:32:50,840 --> 00:32:55,277 thousands of workers, engineers and his superiors in the ministries 501 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:56,794 would have lost bonuses, 502 00:32:56,880 --> 00:32:59,520 worth up to three times their monthly salaries. 503 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:04,359 Brukhanov and Fomin have still not completed the safely test 504 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:07,833 They both know they can't wait much longer. 505 00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:09,719 Today, Reactor Number 4 506 00:33:09,800 --> 00:33:12,440 is due to have its annual maintenance shutdown. 507 00:33:12,560 --> 00:33:16,997 It's an ideal opportunity to carry out the long overdue safety test. 508 00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:21,953 But Bryukhanov has just returned from the 2741 Party congress 509 00:33:22,040 --> 00:33:24,270 where Mikhail Gorbachev has called for 510 00:33:24,360 --> 00:33:26,954 the production of nuclear energy to double. 511 00:33:27,920 --> 00:33:32,596 As a loyal party man, Bryukhanov is keen to increase production levels 512 00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:34,591 and impress his bosses. 513 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:39,519 But with the spotlight turned on the nuclear industry, 514 00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:43,514 he can't afford any accidents and needs to run the safety test 515 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:49,394 (SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN) 516 00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:52,154 He looks to his chief engineer for advice. 517 00:33:52,240 --> 00:33:55,551 Fomin, the only nuclear engineer at Chernobyl, 518 00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:58,393 is keen to proceed and approves the test 519 00:33:58,960 --> 00:34:01,679 Brukhanov, an electrical engineer, 520 00:34:01,760 --> 00:34:04,639 trusts his colleague's judgement and agrees. 521 00:34:08,560 --> 00:34:11,598 A little after 1:00, the operators in the Control Room 522 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:14,911 start to reduce the output from Reactor Number 4. 523 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:19,790 The ideal conditions for the safely test are 20-30% of normal output level 524 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:22,397 Everything is going according to plan, 525 00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:26,951 and Reactor Number 4 is soon reduced to 50% of normal output. 526 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:29,714 (ALARM BELL RINGING) 527 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:32,256 But while the conditions are being prepared 528 00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:36,114 to run the safety test, there is an unexpected turn of events. 529 00:34:36,480 --> 00:34:38,198 (SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN) 530 00:34:38,520 --> 00:34:40,238 The Kiev grid controller 531 00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:43,790 is on the line, demanding an increase in output from the station. 532 00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:48,919 One of the regional power stations has gone down 533 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:52,470 and they need more output from Chernobyl to compensate. 534 00:34:53,120 --> 00:34:54,633 (SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN) 535 00:34:54,720 --> 00:34:57,917 Brukhanov reluctantly complies with the request, 536 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:01,595 but it will mean abandoning the long-awaited safely test 537 00:35:12,560 --> 00:35:17,157 At this time of year, a sudden demand for more electricity isn't so unusual 538 00:35:17,520 --> 00:35:19,272 The May Day holiday is coming up. 539 00:35:19,520 --> 00:35:22,353 All across the Soviet Union, management and workers 540 00:35:22,440 --> 00:35:25,512 are under pressure to meet targets set by the leaders in Moscow. 541 00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:38,280 Vastly and Ludmilla, have holiday plans of their own. 542 00:35:38,840 --> 00:35:40,280 They are due to leave in the morning 543 00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:42,954 once Vastly comes off his shift at the fire station, 544 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:46,471 and take the train to Belarus to spend the holiday with Vasily's parents. 545 00:36:03,320 --> 00:36:04,833 Shortly after 8:00, 546 00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:06,558 Valentin Belokon, 547 00:36:06,760 --> 00:36:10,674 a 28-year-old doctor from Pripyat hospital, begins his shift 548 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:12,871 (SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN) 549 00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:17,190 With the May Day holiday looming, people are in high spirits 550 00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:20,432 and the hospital has received a number of emergency calls. 551 00:36:21,840 --> 00:36:24,832 It promises to be a long night for Dr Belokon. 552 00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:34,832 After a day of relaxation, 553 00:36:35,280 --> 00:36:38,750 Vastly is getting ready for his night shift at the fire station. 554 00:36:39,200 --> 00:36:42,875 (SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN) 555 00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:44,792 He's due on duty at 10:00, 556 00:36:44,880 --> 00:36:47,679 but he finds it hard to drag himself away from Ludmilla. 557 00:37:08,920 --> 00:37:12,231 At Chernobyl, the night shift has just come on duty. 558 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:15,797 It's only a skeleton crew, but they will now be responsible 559 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:18,872 for conducting the safely test aborted earlier in the day. 560 00:37:19,880 --> 00:37:23,714 Anatoly Dyatlov, a newly-promoted deputy chief engineer, 561 00:37:24,240 --> 00:37:25,878 is managing the station tonight 562 00:37:27,120 --> 00:37:31,956 Alexander Akimov is night shift supervisor of Reactor Number 4. 563 00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:37,838 Leonid Toptunov is the operator in charge. 564 00:37:42,680 --> 00:37:46,071 There has been a-10 hour delay with the test now, 565 00:37:46,440 --> 00:37:48,716 and one of the engineers from the previous shift, 566 00:37:48,880 --> 00:37:52,589 Yuri Tregub, stays on to handover to the night shift. 567 00:37:56,320 --> 00:37:58,231 The Kiev grid controller 568 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:01,915 calls to confirm that the extra output is no longer required. 569 00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:04,355 Power is reduced ready for the test 570 00:38:05,080 --> 00:38:10,280 The reactor's power output is regulated by moving the control rods up and down. 571 00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:12,917 There are 211 control rods. 572 00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:16,959 They act as the starter, the accelerator and the brake. 573 00:38:17,720 --> 00:38:21,429 Tonight the operator in charge of manipulating the control rods 574 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:24,831 is 26-year-old Leonid Toptunov. 575 00:38:25,360 --> 00:38:27,920 He graduated from university three years ago. 576 00:38:28,000 --> 00:38:32,597 Like most of the staff at Chernobyl, he is a trained electrical engineer. 577 00:38:37,360 --> 00:38:41,115 Toptunov starts to lower the control rods into the core 578 00:38:41,200 --> 00:38:43,555 and power levels begin to fall 579 00:38:54,160 --> 00:38:56,231 Ludmilla is getting ready for bed. 580 00:38:57,160 --> 00:39:00,278 She's finished packing their bags, for the trip to Belarus in the morning. 581 00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:05,669 (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) 582 00:39:09,200 --> 00:39:11,794 Senior Sergeant Vastly Ignatenko 583 00:39:12,280 --> 00:39:14,840 and the fire officers from Pripyat Brigade Number 6 584 00:39:14,920 --> 00:39:18,151 are having a quiet night, so far. 585 00:39:22,040 --> 00:39:24,634 (SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN) 586 00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:30,229 Back in the control room, 587 00:39:30,320 --> 00:39:34,154 Toptunov has made a mistake setting the control rods. 588 00:39:34,760 --> 00:39:38,913 Power levels have now fallen too low to carry out the safely test 589 00:39:39,000 --> 00:39:41,799 It's almost a complete shutdown. 590 00:39:41,880 --> 00:39:44,872 What's more, Reactor number 4 is extremely unstable 591 00:39:44,960 --> 00:39:47,349 when operating at low power. 592 00:39:47,440 --> 00:39:51,638 Toptunov needs to raise the power levels as quickly as possible. 593 00:39:51,720 --> 00:39:54,439 Fearing that he might make the situation worse, 594 00:39:54,520 --> 00:39:57,751 Toptunov telephones an operator at Reactor Number 3. 595 00:39:57,840 --> 00:39:59,274 (SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN) 596 00:39:59,400 --> 00:40:03,280 He doesn't know what to do because in the manual a lot of the instructions 597 00:40:03,360 --> 00:40:04,794 have been crossed out. 598 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:12,152 He is advised to follow the instructions that are crossed out 599 00:40:12,240 --> 00:40:14,709 because there is no official stamp on the changes. 600 00:40:18,760 --> 00:40:23,152 Following his recent promotion, Dyatlov is keen to impress his bosses. 601 00:40:23,560 --> 00:40:24,755 He has his orders. 602 00:40:24,840 --> 00:40:28,117 They must go ahead and carry out the safely test as instructed. 603 00:40:33,640 --> 00:40:36,712 Akimov and Toptunov think that it's too risky. 604 00:40:37,240 --> 00:40:40,517 Power levels are too low and the test should be abandoned. 605 00:40:42,000 --> 00:40:45,277 But Dyatlov says he's prepared to take responsibility. 606 00:40:45,360 --> 00:40:48,910 Dyatlov orders Toptunov to raise the control rods, 607 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:51,196 thereby increasing the power of the reactor. 608 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:15,392 Dr Belokon is continuing his emergency rounds of Pripyat 609 00:41:15,720 --> 00:41:17,472 He's been called to attend to a drunk 610 00:41:17,560 --> 00:41:19,995 who has fallen from a third floor balcony. 611 00:41:21,400 --> 00:41:24,950 (SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN) 612 00:41:37,880 --> 00:41:41,760 Vastly is suddenly called to the phone by the fire station switchboard. 613 00:41:42,240 --> 00:41:44,117 It's his wife on the line. 614 00:41:51,280 --> 00:41:52,634 Everything is ok. 615 00:41:52,720 --> 00:41:55,678 Ludmilla's realised he's forgotten to take his sandwiches. 616 00:41:58,200 --> 00:42:01,192 She offers to bring his supper to the fire station. 617 00:42:03,760 --> 00:42:06,798 Vastly tells her not to worry and to get a good night's sleep. 618 00:42:07,160 --> 00:42:08,673 They've got a busy day tomorrow. 619 00:42:23,080 --> 00:42:24,115 (ALARM RINGING) 620 00:42:24,200 --> 00:42:27,556 In the control room, Toptunov has removed enough rods 621 00:42:27,640 --> 00:42:31,110 to increase output levels from Reactor Number 4. 622 00:42:32,080 --> 00:42:34,151 But it's still only 7% of output, 623 00:42:34,320 --> 00:42:38,314 well short of the minimum 20% required to carry out the safely test 624 00:42:39,040 --> 00:42:42,635 They need to raise more rods, but to do so they must disable 625 00:42:42,720 --> 00:42:46,031 the automatic shutdown mechanism designed to prevent the reactor 626 00:42:46,120 --> 00:42:47,394 going into meltdown. 627 00:42:47,480 --> 00:42:50,677 Toptunov is very worried and says it's too dangerous. 628 00:42:51,280 --> 00:42:53,191 Anxious to carry out the test as ordered, 629 00:42:53,280 --> 00:42:56,989 Dyatlov switches off the automatic over-ride himself. 630 00:43:11,920 --> 00:43:16,232 The reactor seems to be stabilizing, but only at 12% of its output. 631 00:43:16,440 --> 00:43:20,354 There is still not enough power for the test to be carried out correctly. 632 00:43:29,480 --> 00:43:32,233 Dyatlov demands that they must start the test 633 00:43:36,280 --> 00:43:40,035 He orders Toptunov to begin manually raising the rods. 634 00:43:42,080 --> 00:43:45,630 (ALARMS BLARING) 635 00:43:49,640 --> 00:43:52,553 Power now begins to rise dramatically. 636 00:43:52,640 --> 00:43:55,792 The core overheats like a radioactive volcano. 637 00:43:56,200 --> 00:43:58,237 Toptunov is frightened by 638 00:43:58,320 --> 00:44:01,392 the readings on the instruments and the growing instability. 639 00:44:02,600 --> 00:44:05,069 36 seconds after the beginning of the test 640 00:44:05,160 --> 00:44:07,629 Akimov presses the emergency panic button 641 00:44:07,720 --> 00:44:09,950 for immediate shutdown of the reactor. 642 00:44:12,040 --> 00:44:13,269 But it's too late. 643 00:44:13,360 --> 00:44:16,193 There's not enough time to stop the chain reaction. 644 00:44:16,280 --> 00:44:20,035 In 4 seconds, it reaches 100 times normal power level 645 00:44:20,440 --> 00:44:22,397 Akimov cuts the electricity 646 00:44:22,480 --> 00:44:25,632 so that the rods fall into the core under their own weight. 647 00:44:26,320 --> 00:44:29,472 But the reactor core is now so hot that it's distorted 648 00:44:29,560 --> 00:44:31,631 and the rods can no longer move freely. 649 00:44:32,120 --> 00:44:35,954 Instead, they are stuck and aggravating the reactor even more. 650 00:44:36,840 --> 00:44:40,720 20 seconds later, the roof blows off Reactor Number 4. 651 00:44:52,960 --> 00:44:55,793 5 seconds later, the core erupts, and scatters 652 00:44:55,880 --> 00:45:01,159 50 tons of nuclear fuel, graphite and debris up to 3 kilometres away. 653 00:45:02,040 --> 00:45:05,999 The radiation released is 10 times greater than an atomic bomb. 654 00:45:08,800 --> 00:45:11,519 Dr Belokon is on his way back to the hospital 655 00:45:11,600 --> 00:45:13,318 DR BELOKON: We saw flashes. 656 00:45:13,440 --> 00:45:16,990 We thought they were shooting stars. Just flashes. 657 00:45:17,160 --> 00:45:20,676 Like lightning... we didn't hear any thunder. 658 00:45:20,760 --> 00:45:22,159 The engine was running. 659 00:45:27,320 --> 00:45:31,473 NARRATOR: In the control room, the power suddenly falls and the lights go out. 660 00:45:31,600 --> 00:45:33,557 There is panic and confusion. 661 00:45:34,680 --> 00:45:37,035 They have no idea of the scale of the disaster. 662 00:45:38,200 --> 00:45:40,953 Toptunov even calls a couple of trainee operators, 663 00:45:41,120 --> 00:45:44,112 who he dispatches to the reactor hall to see what's happened. 664 00:45:50,960 --> 00:45:52,871 (ALARM BUZZING) 665 00:45:53,280 --> 00:45:54,634 The alarm is raised 666 00:45:54,720 --> 00:45:58,076 and the men of Kiev Fire Brigade Number 6 spring into action. 667 00:45:58,160 --> 00:46:01,312 (WOMAN ANNOUNCING ON PA) 668 00:46:09,320 --> 00:46:12,915 None of the firefighters are expecting anything unusual 669 00:46:14,960 --> 00:46:17,759 There have been fires at the Chernobyl plant before. 670 00:46:19,400 --> 00:46:22,040 Wearing their normal regulation uniforms, 671 00:46:22,120 --> 00:46:26,239 the firemen set off on the short journey from the fire station to Chernobyl 672 00:46:26,360 --> 00:46:28,476 (SIRENS WAILING) 673 00:46:37,720 --> 00:46:41,315 When the trainee operators finally get to the reactor hall, 674 00:46:41,400 --> 00:46:43,198 they cannot believe their eyes. 675 00:46:45,240 --> 00:46:47,595 OPERATOR: There was this weird kind of luminous light 676 00:46:47,680 --> 00:46:50,115 I've never seen anything like that in my life. 677 00:46:50,200 --> 00:46:53,909 We knew that the only thing that could be burning like that, 678 00:46:54,000 --> 00:46:57,038 with that crazy light, was the reactor itself. 679 00:46:59,920 --> 00:47:03,072 NARRATOR: They quickly realise the danger they are in, 680 00:47:03,160 --> 00:47:05,197 but it is too late 681 00:47:07,880 --> 00:47:09,757 (SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN) 682 00:47:15,240 --> 00:47:17,516 Vastly and the men of Brigade Number Six 683 00:47:17,600 --> 00:47:20,035 are the first firefighters to arrive at the scene. 684 00:47:21,360 --> 00:47:23,536 VASILY: At first when we got there, for a moment or two, 685 00:47:23,560 --> 00:47:27,440 we thought it might just be a fire, like any other fire. 686 00:47:28,000 --> 00:47:32,756 But I felt this strange, metal taste in my mouth and tingling on my face. 687 00:47:32,960 --> 00:47:34,234 But no one held back. 688 00:47:34,360 --> 00:47:38,797 We sensed the danger but we all understood it had to be done. 689 00:47:39,640 --> 00:47:41,631 NARRATOR: The firefighters have not been issued 690 00:47:41,720 --> 00:47:44,872 with any anti-radiation suits or breathing apparatus. 691 00:47:52,880 --> 00:47:55,554 Shift supervisor, Alexander Akimov, 692 00:47:55,880 --> 00:47:59,953 decides to assume command in defiance of Dyatlov, who is panicking. 693 00:48:00,040 --> 00:48:03,670 Akimov phones the plant director, Viktor Bryukhanov 694 00:48:03,760 --> 00:48:06,434 to tell him there is a small fire in the reactor hall 695 00:48:10,760 --> 00:48:13,639 The firemen must climb up onto the reactor roof 696 00:48:13,800 --> 00:48:17,316 to try and contain the fire from spreading to the other three reactors. 697 00:48:19,480 --> 00:48:21,160 FIREMAN: I thought I was all right at first 698 00:48:21,240 --> 00:48:23,072 Your mind can't really take it in. 699 00:48:23,600 --> 00:48:25,876 You think... I'll be fine. I can handle it 700 00:48:25,960 --> 00:48:28,998 There's a part of you that thinks it's indestructible. 701 00:48:29,120 --> 00:48:33,796 But when I got up there, it was burning in so many places on Block 3. 702 00:48:38,320 --> 00:48:41,995 NARRATOR: Toptunov and Akimov alert the other operators in the station 703 00:48:42,080 --> 00:48:45,072 in a bid to stop the spread of the fire to the other reactors. 704 00:48:50,880 --> 00:48:53,952 (COUGHING) 705 00:48:56,480 --> 00:48:59,393 But it's already too late for the two young operators. 706 00:49:00,080 --> 00:49:04,199 Within hours, they develop radiation herpes all over their bodies. 707 00:49:07,000 --> 00:49:10,994 Their bone marrow is destroyed and their immune system collapses. 708 00:49:14,080 --> 00:49:16,799 They are the first to die at Chernobyl 709 00:49:24,280 --> 00:49:27,875 Other casualties are quickly dispatched to a hospital in Pripyat 710 00:49:28,080 --> 00:49:29,479 (AMBULANCE SIREN WAILING) 711 00:49:30,320 --> 00:49:34,154 The deadly radiation is still spewing out of the ruptured power station. 712 00:49:34,720 --> 00:49:40,432 It too is rolling down towards Pripyat, settling invisibly on the sleeping town. 713 00:49:43,880 --> 00:49:48,272 Ludmilla is finding it hard to sleep. She gets up to open the window. 714 00:49:48,400 --> 00:49:51,870 She feels her face beginning to tingle, as if rain is hitting her cheeks. 715 00:49:55,040 --> 00:49:57,031 (COUGHING) 716 00:50:00,920 --> 00:50:03,878 The firemen have managed to stop the fire spreading 717 00:50:03,960 --> 00:50:05,871 on the roof of Reactor Number 3. 718 00:50:06,320 --> 00:50:09,278 But they are feeling strange and disorientated. 719 00:50:13,840 --> 00:50:17,629 Vastly is going through the first stages of radiation sickness. 720 00:50:17,720 --> 00:50:21,600 He is delirious, his throat is dry, he wants to vomit 721 00:50:26,800 --> 00:50:30,634 They are all weak and staggering, thirsty and dizzy. 722 00:50:36,120 --> 00:50:37,349 (VOMITING) 723 00:50:37,440 --> 00:50:40,478 Dr Belokon has broken down the locked door 724 00:50:40,560 --> 00:50:41,595 to the first-aid station. 725 00:50:42,760 --> 00:50:47,038 He gives Vastly some iodine and an injection of Relanium. 726 00:50:51,480 --> 00:50:56,634 VASILY: The roof was melting under our feet The smoke... The smoke... 727 00:51:05,880 --> 00:51:08,952 NARRATOR: The firemen have a strange, metallic taste in their mouth. 728 00:51:09,240 --> 00:51:12,471 They need to have a smoke, or a drink, or something to take away the taste. 729 00:51:19,400 --> 00:51:20,993 (ALARMS BUZZING) 730 00:51:21,080 --> 00:51:24,357 Plant Director Brukhanov arrives at the power station 731 00:51:24,440 --> 00:51:27,114 to ascertain the extent of the damage for himself. 732 00:51:27,520 --> 00:51:30,194 He is met there by Chief Engineer Fomin. 733 00:51:32,520 --> 00:51:36,514 Brukhanov and Fomin cannot bear to even contemplate the unthinkable. 734 00:51:37,200 --> 00:51:40,830 They seem unable to grasp the severity of the situation. 735 00:51:41,440 --> 00:51:43,954 The reactor must be intact 736 00:51:46,000 --> 00:51:48,071 They agree that they will have to inform 737 00:51:48,280 --> 00:51:51,272 Vladimir Marin of the Central Committee's Atomic Sector. 738 00:51:56,720 --> 00:51:58,154 (SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN) 739 00:51:58,240 --> 00:52:03,758 Brukhanov lies to Marin, telling him the reactor core has not been destroyed. 740 00:52:23,240 --> 00:52:27,120 The deadly plume of radiation has already blown across the country 741 00:52:27,200 --> 00:52:31,433 to nelghbouring Belarus and Russia and is heading towards the West 742 00:52:38,600 --> 00:52:41,479 But in Pripyat, life goes on as normal 743 00:52:46,120 --> 00:52:50,432 Officials have arrived from Moscow to assess the damage to the reactor. 744 00:52:55,120 --> 00:52:58,238 Radiation levels in Pripyat are now enormous. 745 00:53:48,560 --> 00:53:52,190 Moscow officials, Civil Defence, and the Medical Board 746 00:53:52,280 --> 00:53:53,714 are trying to decide what to do. 747 00:54:04,000 --> 00:54:07,277 Ludmilla has found out that Vastly and the rest of his brigade 748 00:54:07,360 --> 00:54:08,839 are in the local hospital 749 00:54:14,040 --> 00:54:17,920 He is so radiated, the nurses are afraid to touch him. 750 00:54:42,520 --> 00:54:45,751 Vastly and the other firemen and radiation victims 751 00:54:45,840 --> 00:54:48,354 are flown to a secret hospital in Moscow. 752 00:55:00,920 --> 00:55:05,835 The evacuation will eventually be ordered, 36 hours after the blast, 753 00:55:06,600 --> 00:55:09,035 but it's too late for the people of Pripyat 754 00:55:16,840 --> 00:55:19,150 (SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN) 755 00:55:56,280 --> 00:55:57,793 NARRATOR: The smoking reactor 756 00:55:57,880 --> 00:56:02,272 is still releasing millions of curies of radioactivity into the atmosphere. 757 00:56:02,880 --> 00:56:05,030 It will burn for another nine days. 758 00:56:06,760 --> 00:56:08,717 The spectre of radiation 759 00:56:08,800 --> 00:56:12,634 fills Chernobyl's fields and Pripyat's empty apartments, 760 00:56:13,320 --> 00:56:17,439 where mortal danger has no colour, taste or smell 761 00:56:29,920 --> 00:56:31,638 Following the disaster, 762 00:56:31,720 --> 00:56:34,838 there will be a 10-day news blackout in the Soviet Union. 763 00:56:36,040 --> 00:56:39,476 Meanwhile, in the West, radiation is reported in Sweden. 764 00:56:39,840 --> 00:56:43,879 And US satellites are alerting the world to the Chernobyl disaster. 765 00:56:44,680 --> 00:56:47,718 REPORTER: The Pentagon is thought to have learnt first of the disaster 766 00:56:47,800 --> 00:56:50,838 intercepting radio signals inside the Soviet Union 767 00:56:50,920 --> 00:56:53,560 and then diverting a reconnaissance satellite. 768 00:56:56,200 --> 00:56:57,429 (COUGHING) 769 00:56:58,200 --> 00:57:02,751 Dr Belokon survives, but he will be an invalid for the rest of his life. 770 00:57:06,720 --> 00:57:12,193 Akimov and Toptunov die of acute radiation sickness within 12 days. 771 00:57:14,840 --> 00:57:19,277 Victor Bryukhanov, Nikolai Fomin and Anatoly Dyatlov 772 00:57:19,920 --> 00:57:22,275 will be tried in August 1987. 773 00:57:24,280 --> 00:57:27,033 Brukhanov receives a 10-year sentence. 774 00:57:28,440 --> 00:57:30,511 Fomin attempts to commit suicide, 775 00:57:31,680 --> 00:57:36,516 but he and Dyatlov receive seven and five year sentences for negligence. 776 00:57:39,680 --> 00:57:43,560 Vastly will die in Moscow on May 13th, 1986, 777 00:57:43,640 --> 00:57:45,836 with Ludmilla at his bedside. 778 00:57:45,960 --> 00:57:50,477 She will grieve for her husband, and for the child she is still carrying. 779 00:57:51,440 --> 00:57:54,831 Her baby daughter, Natasha, will live for only five days, 780 00:57:55,480 --> 00:57:58,074 killed by the radiation she absorbed in the womb. 781 00:57:58,440 --> 00:58:00,716 Vasily's baby daughter, Natasha, 782 00:58:00,800 --> 00:58:05,271 will be buried alongside him in Mitino cemetery in Moscow. 783 00:58:07,760 --> 00:58:10,752 Chernobyl is the world's worst nuclear disaster. 784 00:58:11,160 --> 00:58:14,915 The legacy of radiation contamination will last for centuries 785 00:58:15,360 --> 00:58:17,920 and claim hundreds of thousands more victims 786 00:58:18,000 --> 00:58:20,640 than Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined. 787 00:58:21,520 --> 00:58:25,673 More than five million people live on radiation-contaminated land 788 00:58:26,440 --> 00:58:30,354 and they will develop new cancers and genetic mutations. 789 00:58:31,240 --> 00:58:33,914 There is no so-called peaceful atom. 790 00:58:34,760 --> 00:58:38,435 Chernobyl is humanity's final warning.