Energy Department Says Advanced Nuclear Reactor First to Reach Critical Milestone
The milestone validates safety data and could help Antares produce electricity by 2027, officials said.
- Antares Nuclear's microreactor at Idaho National Laboratory reached criticality, achieving a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction, which is a key milestone toward producing electricity by late 2027 and deploying reactors to military installations by 2028.
- The Department of Energy's pilot program, initiated by President Trump's 2025 executive order, supported this milestone with partnerships including the U.S. Army and BWX Technologies, which provided TRISO nuclear fuel for the reactor.
- Antares is the first private company in over 40 years to achieve criticality of an advanced non-light-water reactor in the U.S. under the pilot program, demonstrating significant progress in American nuclear innovation and energy goals.
- Though criticality was achieved at zero power with no electricity produced during testing, the demonstration validated reactor safety and physics, paving the way for future commercial licensing and military applications.
66 Articles
66 Articles
Major breakthrough in Trump pilot program nuclear milestone
A 2025 executive order by President Donald Trump is bearing fruit, according to a recent Antares Nuclear, Inc. announcement. The company revealed that its Mark-0 microreactor was able to achieve criticality, a state in which a nuclear reaction becomes self-sustaining, at the Idaho National Laboratory. This makes it the “first advanced reactor to reach the milestone under a U.S. Department of Energy pilot program” established by an executive orde…
Major breakthrough in Trump pilot program nuclear milestone · American Wire News
A 2025 executive order by President Donald Trump is bearing fruit, according to a recent Antares Nuclear, Inc. announcement. The company revealed that its Mark-0 microreactor was able to achieve criticality, a state in which a nuclear reaction becomes self-sustaining, at the Idaho National Laboratory. This makes it the “first advanced reactor to reach the milestone under a U.S. Department of Energy pilot program” established by an executive orde…
Key milestone reached in nuclear pilot program established by Trump order
An advanced reactor developed under a Department of Energy pilot program reached a key milestone. Antares Nuclear’s Mark-0 microreactor reached initial criticality under DOE authorization, the company announced. Criticality is the point when a reactor achieves a self-sustaining nuclear reaction. This makes Antares the first private company to reach the milestone under the DOE’s Reactor...
America’s Nuclear Comeback Begins
The Department of Energy announced a “rebirth” of the nation’s nuclear industry, as an advanced reactor design has successfully completed a criticality demonstration. The test, part of the Reactor Pilot Program, centered on Antares Nuclear’s design of the Mark-0. The test concluded that the reactor can operate safely and establishes a basis that allows other reactors to produce electricity in 2027. The department said the criticality test was on…
US microreactor achieves first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction, targets 2028 deployment
Federal officials cast the test as a win for the Trump administration's effort to speed up new nuclear projects. "We are very excited by this news today," Energy Secretary Chris Wright said during a call with reporters. "I think June 4th will be a historic day in the American nuclear...Read Entire Article
U.S. Nuclear Acceleration Effort Hits Milestone with Antares Criticality Test
The first time in roughly four decades that a privately developed, non‑light‑water advanced reactor has gone critical in the U.S. The post U.S. Nuclear Acceleration Effort Hits Milestone with Antares Criticality Test first appeared on Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion.
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