Japanese officials are hoping the robot will be able to locate the melted nuclear fuel debris² left-over from the 2011 meltdown.

 

Teruaki Kobayashi is with the Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO.

 

"We have found out that there is a secure opening to go further into the basement, and confirmed that there is nothing obstructing³ the way. The mission proved that in future inspections⁴, we won't be faced with factors that block our way to go further."

 

TEPCO officials say the initial testing suggests the radiation levels inside the plant are significantly lower than first expected. 

 

The robot itself only completed around two-thirds of its survey before becoming stuck in the debris. 

 

TEPCO says the machine did manage to collect enough data before becoming immobilized. 

 

The Fukushima nuclear power plant melted down after water from the 2011 tsunami⁵ innondated the facility, creating the worst nuclear power disaster since the Chernobyl disaster in the 1980's.

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