Seventy-one years ago today, on January 21, 1954 (December 17, 1953), the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, the Nautilus, was launched. The 340-foot-long Nautilus was launched in Groton Harbor on January 21, 1954, the first atomic-powered submarine, the Nautilus, was launched in the dock of the Connecticut Electric Boat Company in the United States. 12,000 of workers and spectators gathered in the temporary stands to watch. The President's wife, Mamie Eisenhower, opened the champagne and sprinkled it on the bow after the traditional naming ceremony. Among the guests in the VIP seat was the man known as the "father of the nuclear submarine", the designer of this nuclear submarine, Hyman George Rickover (born January 2, 1900 in Poland). Tears welled up in his eyes as the "work" slowly dived into the water. It took a lot of effort to complete it from 1948 to the end of 1954. The 340-foot submarine cost $5,500. It could travel the world without coming out of the water, because atomic engines do not need air. With a top speed of 30 knots, the Nautilus could outpace all but the fastest surface ships. The launch of the Nautilus not only added a powerful weapon to the arsenal, but also had a huge impact on how atomic energy is used peacefully, because the nuclear reactor that generates power could serve as a prototype for a large civilian nuclear power plant. The submarine will soon begin a series of sea trials and is expected to enter the fleet in 1955. Hyman Rickover was appointed Rear Admiral for life for his key role in the construction of the Nautilus, a 90-meter-long, 2,800-ton nuclear submarine that cost $55 million to build; an average speed of 20 knots, a maximum speed of 25 knots, and a maximum depth of 150 meters. The submarine is designed to travel continuously underwater for 50 days, 30,000 kilometers without adding any fuel. The submarine is streamlined in shape, and the entire nuclear power plant occupies about half of the hull. The Nautilus (USSNautilus SSN-571) is a combat submarine belonging to the United States Navy. In addition to being the first nuclear-powered submarine in actual service, it is also the first ship to actually sail through the Arctic. This American nuclear submarine was launched five years earlier than the first Soviet nuclear submarine.