Operation Sunshine (USS Nautilus)

Operation Sunshine was a scientific expedition conducted by the U.S. Navy in the summer of 1958. A crew of just over 100 sailors piloted the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) under the North Pole. The Nautilus was chosen for the mission because its nuclear reactor allowed it to remain submerged longer than a conventional submarine. The mission was completed successfully on August 3, 1958 when the Nautilus and her crew crossed under the North Pole.

The Cold War acted partially as a technology race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Not only was there tension over nuclear weapons, but the two countries were entering into the space race during the late 1950s. Russia was celebrating the successful launch of their Sputnik I satellite into orbit in October 1957. Shortly after, the U.S. attempted to launch their Vanguard I satellite, which exploded before taking off.

The issue was not just that the U.S. was behind the Soviets in terms of rocket power, but it was that the American public was aware of it. There was concern that the Russians would be able to use the same rockets that propelled Sputnik, to launch nuclear missiles at the U.S.. So not only was President Eisenhower having to work with his scientists to better the Soviets' technology but he also had the responsibility of maintaining stability with the people. What Eisenhower needed was something to show America and the rest of the world that the U.S. government was ahead of the Soviets technologically. Their answer for that was to take the two areas where they were ahead of the Soviets (submarines and nuclear weapons) and combine them.

The Nautilus was the first nuclear submarine built by the U.S.. It was designed by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover. Rickover had the hull of the boat built at the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut while the reactor was built and tested in Idaho. What made it different from those built during WWII was that it was not designed to be a warship but rather as a symbol for peaceful nuclear energy.

It was not enough that the U.S. had just built a nuclear submarine, the Nautilus had to be tested to show how much more advanced the technology was. Ideas were bounced around including the Nautilus and the Skate (SSN-578) to complete a submerged lap around the Earth. It wasn't until William Anderson (Captain of the Nautilus) suggested the submerged trip under the North Pole that it was even considered.

The Nautilus departed from Groton on August 19, 1957 for her first attempt at sailing under the Pole but it was unsuccessful because of the ice being too deep. Another attempt was not made until the next summer. On July 23, 1958, the Nautilus left the Pearl Harbor naval base heading north towards the Bering Straight. She and her crew crossed under the pole at 2315 on August 3 and continued on for four more days until exiting from under the polar ice (Naval History) where Captain Anderson radioed to the President “Nautilus 90 North”.

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