A combination of mechanical failure, operator error, and poor control room design led to a partial meltdown at Three Mile Island. The core was within 30-60 minutes of a full breach, which could have contaminated a wide area. The accident effectively killed the U.S. nuclear power industry for three decades and became a textbook case of how poor human-computer interface design can cause catastrophe.
Today in Technology
March 28, 1979
What technology failure came within hours of a full meltdown — and the public didn't know until days later?
A combination of mechanical failure, operator error, and poor control room design led to a partial meltdown at Three Mile Island.
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Today In Technology: What technology failure came within hours of a full meltdown — and the public didn't know until days later?