The USS Nautilus (SSN-571) was the world's first operational nuclear-powered submarine, launched on January 21, 1954. It was designed to operate underwater for extended periods without the need for surface refueling, thanks to its nuclear reactor. The submarine was named after the fictional vessel from Jules Verne's novel, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. The Nautilus made history on January 17, 1955, when it became the first submarine to complete a submerged transit of the North Pole. This achievement demonstrated the capabilities of nuclear propulsion and advanced submarine technology, paving the way for future submarines in the United States Navy and beyond.