Capability

Top speed  exceeds 30 knots

• Powered by two  nuclear reactors that can operate for more than 20 years without  refueling 

• Expected to  operate in the fleet for about 50 years 

• Carries over  80 combat aircraft 

• Three  arresting cables can stop a 28-ton aircraft going 150 miles per hour  in less than 400 feet 

Size

Towers 20  stories above the waterline

• 1092 feet  long; nearly as long as the  Empire  State  Building is  tall 

• Flight deck  covers 4.5 acres 

• 4 bronze  propellers, each 21 feet across and weighing 66,200  pounds 

• 2 rudders,  each 29 by 22 feet and weighing 50 tons 

• 4 high speed  aircraft elevators, each over 4,000 square  feet 

Dates

Dec  8, 1994 Contract awarded to Newport News  Shipbuilding

• Feb  12, 1998 Keel  laid 

• Oct  1, 2000  Precommissioning Unit established 

• March  4, 2001 Christened  by Mrs. Nancy Reagan 

• May  5, 2003 First underway 

• July  12, 2003  Commissioned 

• July  23, 2004 Arrived at homeport in San Diego,  CA 

Capacity

Home to about  6,000 Navy personnel

• Carries enough  food and supplies to operate for 90 days 

• 18,150 meals  served daily 

• Distillation  plants provide 400,000 gallons of fresh water from sea water daily,  enough for 2000 homes 

• Nearly 30,000  light fixtures and 1,325 miles of cable and  wiring 

• 1,400  telephones, 14,000 pillowcases and 28,000  sheets 

• Costs the Navy  approximately $250,000 per day for pier side  operation 

• Costs the Navy  approximately $2.5 million per day for underway operations (Sailor's  salaries included 

Thanks Bob, Outstanding Info.