New Progress at Bushehr
 For more Public Eye satellite imagery, see the Picture of the Week Gallery of satellite and other imagery of places in the news. |
Ikonos satellite imagery [acquired 13 January, 2002] showed continued progress toward completion of Iran's nuclear power reactor Bushehr. This new image reveals for the first time the recent installation of cooling water pipes from the reactor area to the water intake structures. Completion of the water cooling system is a key milestone towards making the reactor operational once it has been fueled.
Using their own imagery satellites, the Israeli military is undoutedly also monitoring the progress towards completion of the first Bushehr reactor. Although the reactor is not designed to produce material for nuclear weapons, the spent fuel from the reactor could be reprocessed to to yield plutonium, which is why the reactor is under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. As with the Iraqi Osiraq reactor two decades ago, Israel may face a choice as to whether to attack the Bushehr reactor before it becomes operational.
There have been 12 attempts to collect Ikonos imagery of Bushehr since February 2000, 8 of which are cloud-free.
| Ikonos Imagery of the Reactor Construction Site as of 13 January, 2002 | ||
| Click on the small image to view a larger version | ||
| Credit: spaceimaging.com. Copyright (c) Space Imaging. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Online and news media distribution or publishing requires permission from Space Imaging. Contact Mark Brender for media permission at (703-558-0309) or mbrender@spaceimaging.com | ||
Comparison of the 2001, and 2002 Ikonos imagery provides change detection of excavation and ongoing installation of the turbine hall cooling lines |
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Close examination of the turbine hall cooling lines |
| Ikonos Imagery collected of Bushehr as of 21 May 2002 | ||
As of May 21, 2002 there have been 8 ikonos images collected of Bushehr 
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| Ikonos Imagery of the Reactor Construction Site as of 13 January, 2002 | ||
| Click on the small image to view a larger version | ||
| Credit: spaceimaging.com. Copyright (c) Space Imaging. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Online and news media distribution or publishing requires permission from Space Imaging. Contact Mark Brender for media permission at (703-558-0309) or mbrender@spaceimaging.com | ||
| March 2001 Ikonos Imagery of Bushehr | Comparative Imagery of Bushehr | January 2002 Ikonos Imagery of Bushehr |
Overview of Bushehr as of March 2001 |
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New Ikonos imagery of Bushehr as of January 2002 |
The reactor construction site as it appeared in 2001 |
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The January 2002 Ikonos imagery reveals continued progress on both reactor units |
In March of 2001, excavation for cooling water supply and return lines is visible |
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New Ikonos imagery reveals cooling water supply and return lines being layed. An unidentifed structure under construction in 2001, appears to be nearing completion |
A water spillway as of March 2001 |
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Work continues on the water spillway |
Construction site support area as of March 2001 |
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Ikonos imagery taken in January 2002 reveals increased levels of activity in construction site support area |
The heavy fabrication yard as of March 2001 |
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Ikonos imagery from January 2002 reveals increased activity levels in the heavy fabrication yard |
An unassuming vacant area in March 2001 |
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Ikonos imagery from January 2002 reveals a significant increase in storage of raw materials for mixing concrete |
A vacant storage yard in 2001 |
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As of January 2002, this area can be identified as a paved vehicle storage yard |
Three Chinese-built guided missile patrol boats were visible on 01 March 2001 |
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Seven missile boats were visible on 13 January 2002 |
