Hyman Rickover's insistence on reactor safety receives particular credit despite criticism of other aspects of his character. A serious nuclear accident would have threatened the program's acceptance under public scrutiny. In this interpretation, Rickover understood that he could not assume the program would receive a second chance. Preventing accidents therefore had to be part of developing naval nuclear propulsion from the outset.
Notable Point · 1:52:26-1:53:06
Rickover's reactor safety priorities
Reactor safety was central to Rickover's development of naval nuclear propulsion and its ability to survive public scrutiny.