A brief account is given of the disassembly of Kiwi-A, the first rocket reactor test device to be tested at Nevada Test Site on July 1, 1959- The main body of the report gives the results of examination of seme recovered parts, particularly the fuel elements. Some of the "graphite whims" supporting the fuel elements were found to be cracked. Rupture of the closure plate was verified. The consequent by-pass of propellpxit resulted in nuch higher fuel element temperatures than planned with consequent severe corrosion of the hotter fuel elements. Fuel plates were examined radiographically and autoradiographically, dimensional and weight changes were measured, and photographs were taken. From these data together with studies of graphite corrosion as a function of temp¬erature in an electrically heated furnace, the temperature from point to point in the reactor was deduced and an estimate made of propellant by¬pass.
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