Spinoffs of big nuclear projects

Spinoffs so far used to be discussed only in connection with space travel. The question is well worth investigating wether also big nuclear projects, such as the advanced reactor lines or the nuclear fuel cycle, produce technical spinoffs. One misunderstanding should be cleared right at the beginning: man did not travel to the moon to invent the teflon coated frying pan. Nor is nuclear spinoff the actual purpose of the exercise. The high temperature reactor and the fast breeder reactor, or the closing of the nuclear fuel cycle, are justified independent goals of energy policy. However, if the overall benefit to the national economy of nuclear high technology is to be evaluated, also the question of technical spinoff must be considered. (orig.)