As the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, Nautilus could remain submerged for two weeks at a time and travel at speeds of over 20 knots, or about 23 miles per hour. Advertisement.

The Submarine Force Museum in Groton, Conn., houses a collection of more than 33,000 artifacts about the history of the submarine. Next to the museum is the USS Nautilus the first nuclear powered ...

Congress got involved in 1951 and approved the plan for the first nuclear-powered submarine. Called the Nautilus, its keel was laid in 1952 and the nuclear sub was launched in 1954.

The Nautilus was powered by the Submarine Thermal Reactor which was later redesignated as the S2W reactor- a pressurized water reactor developed by Westinghouse Electric Corporation for the U.S. Navy.

Cmdr. Thomas Digan, the submarine’s first commanding officer, turned over command to Cmdr. Christian Olsen as part of a traditional Navy ceremony on Friday.

Nautilus is now an exhibit at the Submarine Force Museum in Groton, Connecticut. On January 17, 1955, the USS Nautilus transmitted a historic message: "Underway on nuclear power." ...

The USS Nautilus was the world's first nuclear-powered submarine. It participated in scientific and military operations around the world.