US Says Antares’ Small Nuclear Reactor Reaches ‘Criticality’ (1)

The Trump administration announced a small modular nuclear reactor reached a critical milestone Thursday.

The small reactor being developed by Antares Nuclear Inc. participating in an Energy Department pilot program reached “criticality,” the agency said in a statement. The milestone occurs when a nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining enough to produce a steady release of energy.

The Energy Department has set a goal of achieving the milestone in at least three test reactors by July 4 and selected projects from Antares, Oklo Inc., Aalo Atomics Inc., Atomic Alchemy Inc., Deep Fission Inc., Last Energy Inc., Natura Resources ...