A Look into Diverse Futuristic
Nuclear Power World

Offers a glimpse into a meal of Korea's first astronaut, nuclear power robot, laser and nuclear reactor model

Imagine what kimchi, Korea's main side dish, would look like when Korean astronauts embark on a space exploration mission in the future. Spectators to Nuclear R&D Festival 2006 have gotten a glimpse into the past, present and future of the nuclear power industry.
The main dish is roasted rice mixed with beef and kimchi, and the desert is sujeonggwa, a kind of fruit punch or sikhae, a sweet drink made with fermented rice. The dishes are not the normal meals one would have at a traditional Korean restaurant, but they are the meals that Korea's first astronauts will eat while floating in space for a mission scheduled in 2008.
Currently, the United States and Russia are the only countries to possess the technology for manufacturing space foods that are made under aseptic conditions. Korea is striving to become the third country capable of producing space foods.
A range of space foods Korea is now working on was unveiled to the public for the first time during Nuclear R&D Festival 2006 that got under way from April 20 through April 23 at the first floor Indian Hall of COEX in Samsung-dong, southeastern Seoul. In celebration of the 39th anniversary of the Month of Science, the Ministry sponsored the exhibition in cooperation with the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) and Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS). The exhibition was the highlight of the technologies on nuclear power corresponding to the international profile of Korea as the world's fifth largest nuclear powerhouse.
For the general public who associate nuclear power with huge nuclear power plants, the exhibition revealed a different side of nuclear power of which they got a glimpse. Spectators, ranging from children to adults, were given opportunities to take a look into the different colors of the world,
created by grafting radiation technology into such diverse disciplines as bio-technology, environmental technology, nano-technology and space technology.Take a look into Nuclear Power Technology Pavilion, one of the three theme pavilions set up on an exhibition space of 1,200 pyeong (3,960 sq. meters). HANARO, a multi-purpose research nuclear reactor responsible for some of the diverse uses of nuclear power, including the production of isotopes to cure cancers,
is displayed on the 100-inch holoscreeen, the largest-ever of its kind. They have been given an opportunity to maneuver nuclear reactor examination robots in water, scrutinizing the spent nuclear fuel, and Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm. Spectators can operate a robot with four propellants swimming freely in water, while manipulating robot elbows and claws up and down as well as to the left and the right through the buttons of the camera. The robot arm, a kind of wall-mounted manipulator,
picks up products and presents them as gifts to spectators.
Spectators to the Nuclear Power Safety Zone within the Nuclear Power Technology Pavilion can confirm that the nuclear power plant is safely protected from such natural disasters as an earthquake by watching a demonstration of a quake. Visitors are surprised to find how shock control apparatus can absorb the impact of the strongest-ever magnitude of earthquake that could hit the nation.
Entering into the Nuclear Power Life Experience Pavilion, such space food samples like germ-free space kimchi, made with radiation,
Even though the famous Korean side dish contains no lactic acid in the course of sterilization, kimchi, waiting for its journey into space, has attracted much of the attention from spectators because it still keeps its superb fibroid material and nutritive elements.
If space kimchi gets approval from the Biology Medical Research Institute, an arm of the Russian Space Aviation Agency, responsible for lifting off spacecraft Soyuz.
Korea will launch a project to change traditional Korean fermented foods like roasted rice with beef and kimchi, sujeonggwa, and sikhae into space dishes. All of this will lead to a day when a Korea astronaut or astronauts will be able to enjoy traditional Korean foods in space just as easily as he could on Earth.
Also on display in the same pavilion were high-purity cosmetic products,
made with a surprisingly superb combination of nano-technology and radiation technology. Even if they superficially look like normal cosmetics, the special cosmetics are born with three state-of-the-art radiation technologies of wrapping several layers after cutting into particles of a nano size after high-purity refinement process of removing unnecessary materials and colors. Water tissues for infants, made with radiation sterilization and without food preservatives and harmful chemicals, were handed out, There was an event in which rice cake was produced by utilizing Nokwon or Hukseon glutinous rice ears,
a kind of mutative varieties.
Take a peek into the future of nuclear power at the Nuclear Power Vision Pavilion. Spectators appreciated videos on such futuristic technologies as a hydrogen production apparatus and a hydrogen-driven car. Visitors pushed the button to watch a hydrogen car hit the road in the year 2020. Also on display were such advanced technologies as experiments and products stemming from uses of a proton accelerator and black diamond,
and waste water sterilization model designed to transform waste water into water for industrial use through radiation. nw

Neutron spectrometers at HANARO

KAERI President Park Chang-kue introduces achievements KAERI has made during its 10 years of research at its own pavilion. Many international and Korean nuclear experts, including ex-KAERI president Chang In-soon, toured Nuclear R&D Festival 2006.

(clockwise)laser application technology for stable isotope production; mobile robot for calandria inspection o f PHWR; and omni-directional mobile robot for inspection of nuclear facilities.

(From above) Nokwon or Hukseon glutinous rice ears, a kind of mutative varieties, kimchi and other space foods developed for Korea's first astronauts; and Deputy Prime Minister Kim Woo-sik, KAERI President Park Chang-kue, KHNP President Lee Joong-jae, KINS President Shin Won-ky, ex-KAERI president Chang In-soon and KOPEC President Lim Sung-choon attend a ceremony for opening Nuclear R&D Festival 2006.