2012 Event The last nuclear reactor in Japan is shut down, leaving the country without nuclear power since 1970 2011 Event A 5.8 magnitude earthquake, the most powerful since 1897, strikes near Mineral, Virginia, causing a shut down of a nearby nuclear reactor 1986 Event Worst nuclear disaster, 4th reactor at Chernobyl U.S.S.R. explodes, 31 die 1969 Event Nuclear reactor Dodewaard Netherlands goes into use 1966 Event Partial meltdown at Detroits's Fermi 1 nuclear reactor 1962 Event 1st Belgian nuclear reactor begins operation 1961 Event China uses it's 1st nuclear reactor 1960 Event 1st atomic reactor for research and development, Richland Wa 1960 Event 1st atomic reactor system patents, J W Flora of Canoga Park, California 1959 Event U.S.S.R. and Iraq signs contract for building Iraqi nuclear reactor 1958 Event Construction began on 1st private thorium-uranium nuclear reactor 1957 Event Accident at British nuclear reactor in Windsdale 1957 Event 1st experimental sodium nuclear reactor operated 1956 Event 1st atomic reactor built for private research operates Chicago, Illinois 1955 Event Fiat Motors orders 1st private atomic reactor 1955 Event 1st sub powered by liquid metal cooled reactor launched-Seawolf 1953 Event 1st privately operated atomic reactor, Raleigh NC
