Editing Project Pluto (section)

== Tory II-C ==
Tory II-A tested the reactor design and the integrity of the fuel elements under a simulation of operational conditions. Livermore now produced a second reactor, Tory II-C, which would be a fully functional engine for a ramjet missile. Issues that had been ignored in the design of Tory II-A had to be resolved in that of Tory II-C. The new design was complete by August 1962.{{sfn|Goldberg|1962|pp=2–3}} The Tory II-C reactor was cylindrical in shape, {{convert|8.5|ft|order=flip|sp=us}} long and {{convert|4.75|ft|order=flip|sp=us}} in diameter. It contained about 293,000 fueled and 16,000 unfueled beryllium oxide tubes, which occupied 55 percent of its volume. The fuel loading varied through the reactor to achieve the right power profile. In operation, the core generated {{convert|10|MW/ft3|MW/m3|order=flip|sp=us}}.{{sfn|Walter|1962|pp=1–4}}

The checkout of the test facilities for Tory II-C testing commenced on 17 November 1962. The facilities were incomplete when this testing began, so many of the tests were in support of the construction program. These tests fell into four categories: testing of the air supply system; testing of the other facilities components;  qualification of the test vehicle; and operator training. The facilities checkout ended on 5 March 1964, by which time 82 tests had been carried out.{{sfn|Barnett|1965|pp=2–6}}

Before attempting a high power reactor test, five major tests were performed. The first test, conducted on 23 March, was a subcritical test of the twelve hand-inserted and six electrically-activated auxiliary shutdown rods. The purpose of the test was to verify that the operational rods could be removed safely so long as the auxiliary rods were in place. This would mean that staff would not have to be removed from the test bunker area during checkout. The test was conducted as if it were a critical one, with all personnel evacuated from the test area and the test managed remotely from the control room. The test verified the predictions made at Livermore; the operational rods could be withdrawn safely. A cold critical test was then conducted the following day to verify that the instrumentation was working correctly.{{sfn|Barnett|1965|pp=6–9}}

[[File:Tory II-C reactor.jpg|left|thumb|The Tory-IIC prototype]]
Hot zero-power tests were conducted on 9 and 23 April. These involved testing the core under air flow conditions approaching those of a full power run. The test plan for the first test called for running air at {{convert|800|F|C|order=flip}} at a rate of {{convert|600|lb/s|kg/s|order=flip|sp=us}} for 60 seconds. The test was aborted and the shim rods scrammed (shut down the reactor) when vibration exceeded a pre-set level. It turned out that the vibration of the core was not the problem: it was the [[transducer]]s used to measure vibration that were not operating properly. Loose connections were repaired, and a second test scheduled. This time it was planned to operate successively at {{convert|200|,|400|,|600|,|800|,|1200|and|1800|lb/s|kg/s|order=flip|sp=us}}. This was done, and there was no vibration. The test also qualified the [[thermocouple]]s used to monitor the core's temperature.{{sfn|Barnett|1965|pp=6–9}}  

The next step was to conduct a low power test with {{convert|850|F|C|order=flip}} air at {{convert|1800|lb/s|kg/s|order=flip|sp=us}} on 7 May. As the air flow was reaching its maximum, shim actuator B2 became noisy and was placed on hold. Then, soon after the maximum was reached, actuator A1 detected a loss of air pressure and scrammed. Actuators A2 and B1 began moving to compensate for the loss of reactivity. A manual scram was then ordered, although in hindsight this was unnecessary. The problem with B2 was traced to a faulty wire, and the problem with A1 to a faulty pressure switch. Since there were no outstanding problems, the decision was taken to proceed with an intermediate power test on 12 May. This test aimed to simulate the conditions of a Mach 2.8 flight at {{convert|10000|ft|order=flip|sp=us}}. The reactor was taken to critical and the power increased to 750 kW. Air flow was then increased to {{convert|1260|lb/s|kg/s|order=flip|sp=us}} at an average temperature of {{convert|1995|F|C|order=flip}}. The core reached {{convert|2268|F|C|order=flip}}. The test was concluded after an hour and 45 minutes.{{sfn|Barnett|1965|pp=9–14}}

The stage was now set for a full power test on 20 May 1964. This would simulate a Mach 2.8 flight on a hot {{convert|100|F|C|order=flip}} day at sea level. The reactor was started and power raised to 700 kW. Air was introduced at {{convert|200|lb/s|kg/s|order=flip|sp=us}} and then raised to {{convert|410|lb/s|kg/s|order=flip|sp=us}}. The reactor power was then increased to around 76 MW, at which point the core temperature was {{convert|1730|F|C|order=flip}}. All systems were functioning normally, so the airflow was increased to {{convert|1663|lb/s|kg/s|order=flip|sp=us}} and power increased until the core temperature reached  {{convert|2268|F|C|order=flip}}, at which point the power output was around 461 MW. The reactor was run for five minutes, after which a manual scram was initiated, and the airflow reduced to {{convert|200|lb/s|kg/s|order=flip|sp=us}} for two minutes. The whole test took about an hour. Inspection of the reactor afterwards was done without disassembly. No blockages or anomalies were detected. The control rods were all in place, and there was no evidence of damage or corrosion.{{sfn|Barnett|1965|pp=14–19}}