Understandably, personnel with some knowledge of nuclear power technology strenuously objected to a "safety test" which deliberately created a dangerous scenario, while incapacitating the response systems already in place. Additionally, those who ordered the test seemed to forget or were unaware of certain facts about the reactor core, namely that the reaction does not burn out the second they stop feeding it. It continues bright and hot and could flare up for days if it is not continually cooled. Only a basic misunderstanding or ignorance of scientific fact could possibly explain the sequence of human actions. It seems they believed that lowering the power led to an immediate reduction of temperature and a lessening of the danger.
They were dead wrong.
1:23 am., operators interrupt the
