The emergency core cooling system was shut down as part of the test as well as the local automatic control system, which shuts down the system if the power drops too low. At this time the reactor somehow became unstable and the power level fell from the normal 3,000 megawatts to a dangerously low 30 megawatts. The low level of power caused a low reactivity rate and high levels of iodine isotopes to be produced which leaked into the fuel tank and caused difficulties raising the power level back to its norm. (Medvedev G 67) In fear that the power level would continue to drop the removal of some of the control rods was ordered which slows down the reactivity rate and decreases the power level. The power-level gradually increased to 200 megawatts, but was highly unstable. (Medvedev G 68)
             Time passed and eventually two additional pumps were switched on to supply the reactor with more water to keep the core at the appropriate low temperature. When these two additional pumps were turned on it inadvertently lowered the power level. As a result, the number of control rods was reduced even further. At the same time, there was a lack of steam in other parts of the reactor, which increased flow of water through the pumps put a tremendous amount of pressure on the pumps. So, fearing it would interfere with the test, the turbo-generator trigger was turned off. The trigger to turbo-generator 8 was the safety system that could have prevented the colossal accident that was about to occur not even a minute later. (Medvedev G 69)
             Less than thirty seconds after the trigger was switched off the steam flow was blocked and caused the electric power to lower and the pumps supplying water to the core to slow down, which caused less cooling and more steam. Consequently, the core heated up and the reactivity rate increased. With the increased reactivity rate even higher amounts of steam were produced causing the cycle to start over. The core started...