Ikonos Imagery of Dimona
Negev Nuclear Research Center
Kirya le-Mehekar Gariny (KAMAG)
Machon 2 - Of the 2,700 employees at Dimona, it is said that only 150 are permitted access to Machon 2, which reportedly extends six floors underground. The chemical reprocessing plant removes plutonium produced in the reactor from the spent uranium rods. Before reprocessing begins, the rods are stored in water filled tanks for several weeks while the short-halflife radio-isotopes decay. The residual uranium is reprocessed to be used in new fuel rods. The facility also separates lithium-6 from natural lithium for use in thermonuclear weapons. According to Vanunu, the average weekly production is 1.2 kilograms of pure plutonium, enough for 4-12 nuclear weapons per year.
| The Big Dig | |
| Click on the small image to view a larger version | |
| CORONA IMAGERY 25 August 1963 |
CORONA IMAGERY 10 December 1965 |
 1963 Excavation |
 1965 Excavation | Corona Imagery from 1963 and 1965 reveal a large excavation measuring 100 x 100 meters could have contained a large underground facility - possibly the Machon 2 reprocessing facility. The Israelis removed an estimated 66,000 to 81,000 cubic yards of soil. |
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IKONOS IMAGERY 04 July 2000 | |
 2000 - Excavation filled in | |
| Later imagery shows Israeli efforts to fill and landscape the terrain where the excavation took place. According to published reports the Israelis have taken numerous camouflage, concealment, and deception measures at Dimona. This excavation is consistent with this type of activity. | |
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