ATLAS decommission reports

ATLAS DECOMMISSION REPORT #01 - LT MARCS - 8/23/77

GENERAL POSTMORTEM

Following the dismissal of Dr. Isaac Hammond, LTC Oberlin has tasked me with overseeing the shutdown of the ATLAS Project. This report outlines the state of
the project as of its termination.

While showing promise in its final trials, the project still has major stability issues,
and considerable additional effort would be required to create a consistently
operational device. The working trials impacted the operation of several key components, including the miniaturized ion accelerator and primary induction coil. Also of concern was the enormous stress put on the coolant intake pumps, and possible defects discovered in the release valves.

ATLAS DECOMMISSION REPORT #02 - LT MARCS - 8/23/77

SELECTED COMPONENT STATUS

Ion Accelerator: Our experiment with a compact ion accelerator has left it vulnerable to strong feedback during device initiation. It survived the test, but the design should be reconsidered before any future use is attempted.

Induction Coil: The induction coil suffers the same feedback susceptibility as the ion accelerator. Repeated usage causes significant variance in the flux distributions throughout the coil. Redesign of this device also needs consideration if it is to be used in any future trials, as the potential risk of frying the coil could require substantial capital in replacement parts.

Core Processing Unit: While firmware updates have proven useful in troubleshooting important aspects of ATLAS' operational capability, the sheer processing power required to execute the necessary commands requires a special-order CPU. This CPU came at great cost to the operation, and numerous computing breakdowns during trial runs led leadership to question its long-term stability, as well.

Full diagnostic report pending.

ATLAS DECOMMISSION REPORT #03 - LT MARCS - 8/23/77

INTAKE PRESSURES AND STRESS TEST

A single use of the ATLAS device requires a huge intake of coolant to keep the machine operational. Pumping this coolant through the device during operation puts a worrying amount of stress on its pipes, pumps, and valves. Repeated usage testing has revealed signs of cracks and breakage throughout. Furthermore, the hasty construction of the machine has led to structural flaws that could lead to high pressure buildup in the intake points, which could have destructive results if not addressed. These flaws could have been averted with careful design protocols, but the pressures of the war overrode these concerns. I would be remiss not to recommend an excess of caution when proceeding with future projects.