U.S. completes DAHRT nuke bomb monitor

Albuquerque -- The U.S. government announced the completion of a sophisticated X-ray machine used to study the split-second early stages of a nuclear bomb explosion.

The Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrotest Facility (DAHRT) at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico cost $300 million to build in 2003 and another $90 million to be taken apart and rebuilt after problems were discovered.

"There were a lot of people who told us we couldn't do it," Mary Hockaday, deputy associate lab director for nuclear weapons physics, told the Albuquerque Journal Tuesday.

The National Nuclear Security Administration finally gave DAHRT the green light on Monday.

The NNSA said in a written statement that DARHT would allow the agency to monitor the physical and mechanical condition of aging nuclear bombs without having to conduct a full-scale underground test.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.