OAK RIDGE, Tennessee (AP) -- The government is offering a rare glimpse of the massive machines used to enrich uranium for the "Little Boy" bomb -- the first atomic weapon used in war, dropped 60 years ago in August on Hiroshima, Japan.
"Don't you know the people in Knoxville wondered what in the world was going on out here," Department of Energy guide Ray Smith said Monday. "All this material was coming in, truckload after truckload, and nothing ever left."
For the first time, the public will be allowed to see the old calutron machines -- devices used for separating out fissionable uranium for reactor fuel or bombs -- in tours this weekend as part of Oak Ridge's annual Secret City Festival.
The tours quickly filled in advance with more than 600 people signing up.
Hmmm. I'm thinking I'll take a side trip on my way back from Phreaknic this year. Talk about delivering the package.
