Sat Aug 02 19:22:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text, focusing on the historical achievement and its Indian perspective, as well as a brief summary:
**Summary:**
This article details the development and historical significance of the USS Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine. It highlights the crucial role of scientists like Ross Gunn and Captain Hyman G. Rickover in overcoming technological hurdles and realizing the potential of nuclear energy for submarine propulsion. The article traces the Nautilus’s journey, including its groundbreaking voyage under the North Pole in 1958, and its eventual decommissioning and transformation into a museum exhibit. It also touches on the often overlooked connection to the Manhattan Project and the early work on uranium isotope separation that made the nuclear submarine possible.
**News Article:**
**The Hindu: From Manhattan Project to Under the Ice: Remembering the Nautilus, the Submarine that Changed Naval Warfare**
*August 03, 2025 12:52 am IST*
**GROTON, CT, USA** – On this day in history, August 3rd marks the anniversary of a pivotal moment in naval history: the USS Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine, crossing the geographic North Pole in 1958. The Hindu reflects on this achievement, examining its impact on global power dynamics and the silent revolution it sparked in underwater warfare.
Before the Nautilus, submarines were limited by battery power, forcing them to surface frequently. The dream of extended underwater missions fueled the U.S. Navy’s pursuit of alternative energy sources. The discovery of nuclear fission was a transformative event, leading to the Manhattan Project and the parallel exploration of atomic power for propulsion.
The article highlights the contributions of unsung heroes like physicist Ross Gunn, who first envisioned a uranium-powered submarine, and Philip Abelson, whose uranium isotope separation techniques were adopted and scaled up for the Manhattan Project. The mantle was then passed to Captain Hyman G. Rickover, whose relentless drive and engineering expertise led to the development of a safe and compact nuclear reactor for submarine use.
The Nautilus, launched in 1954, shattered existing limitations. It could travel at unprecedented speeds and remain submerged for weeks at a time. Its journey under the North Pole demonstrated its strategic capabilities and ushered in a new era of silent, long-range underwater operations.
The Nautilus was decommissioned in 1980, and in 1982, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. The submarine now resides as a permanent exhibit at the Submarine Force Museum in Groton, Connecticut. This technological marvel stands as a testament to human ingenuity and the enduring quest to conquer the world’s oceans.
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