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NASA's SR-1 Freedom deep-space nuclear reactor progresses smoothly, planned to set sail in 2028

Recently, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that its Space Reactor-1 (SR-1) Freedom has achieved a key breakthrough in the development of nuclear power modules and has reached an important contract consensus with partners. The reactor will become the first spacecraft to demonstrate nuclear fission power beyond Earth orbit, with launch planned for late 2028 en route to Mars. It is understood that Sierra Lobo will provide the closed Brayton cycle power conversion system for SR-1 Freedom, responsible for converting the thermal energy generated by the fission reactor into electricity to drive the nuclear electric propulsion system. The power conversion system will be deeply integrated with the fission reactor designed and developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Idaho National Laboratory (Idaho National Lab...

2026-10-21

MIT Startup Develops "Desktop" Dual-Laser Fusion Device, Targeting Tritium Fuel Gap

Recently, Cambridge Heavy Industries, a startup based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) laboratory in the United States, has emerged from stealth, publicly disclosing for the first time its previously confidential micro "desktop" inertial confinement fusion (ICF) technology scheme. It is understood that, unlike the National Ignition Facility (NIF), which employs a massive third-generation spatial array of 192 laser beams, Cambridge Heavy Industries has developed a unique two-dimensional dual-laser ignition device. The first laser irradiates the fuel pellet in a concentric ring pattern to generate an inwardly propagating shock wave, while the second laser precisely irradiates the shock wave...

2026-10-19

Rosatom Joins Forces with Prosoft-Systems and Reglab to Deepen Cooperation, Boosting Gen IV Nuclear Power and Industrial Autonomous Automation

During the Russian Energy Week international forum held in Moscow, JSC Rusatom Automated Control Systems (RASU), the core management entity of Rosatom's Automation Control Systems and Electrical Engineering Division, formally signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Prosoft-Systems LLC and its controlled subsidiary Reglab LLC. The parties will deeply integrate their technological expertise in industrial-grade hardware development, software development, and turnkey control system engineering deployment...

2026-10-18

Lighting the Micro-Fire of Civilization: From Grid Baseload to Daily Life—A Panoramic Understanding of the Science and Reality of Russia's "Atoms for Peace"

In the public perception of modern society, "nuclear" is often a word laden with complex emotions, easily evoking destructive weapons or historical nuclear accident alarms. However, in fundamental physics, the enormous binding energy contained within the atomic nucleus is essentially a neutral natural law. When this energy is strictly confined within a reactor by precision engineering, it exhibits a completely different peaceful character. As the renowned physicist Kurchatov said, atoms are not soldiers but workers. Currently, human society is entering a "century of electricity" characterized by deep digitalization and high-energy-consuming industry. Facing the geopolitical fragility caused by fossil fuels and global extreme climate challenges, civil...

2026-10-16

Unit 1 of Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is planned to start criticality before the end of the year

Recently, Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, stated that the first reactor of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Turkey is expected to be officially loaded with fuel and achieve first criticality (i.e., the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction) in the second half of December this year, pushing the project to formally transition from the construction phase to the commissioning and startup phase. It is understood that the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is Turkey's first nuclear power plant. The project plans to build 4 Russian VVER-1200 Generation III reactors, with a total investment exceeding US$20 billion, fully funded and constructed by Rosatom under the Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model....

2026-10-17

Pre-Project Geotechnical Investigation Launched for Units 5 and 6 of Kakrapar Nuclear Power Station in India

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) announced that geotechnical investigations have officially commenced at the site of Units 5 and 6 of the Kakrapar Nuclear Power Plant in Gujarat, marking a key early-stage development milestone for these two indigenously designed 700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) projects. Meanwhile, the Nuclear Fuels Complex is manufacturing steam generator tubes to support the fleet construction programme, and India's indigenous Small Modular Reactor programme has also reached an important...

2026-10-17

Rosatom and Indonesia Reach Historic Agreement to Implement First Floating Nuclear Power Plant Power Supply Export Project

Rosatom State Corporation and Indonesian state-owned enterprise PT Pembangkit Listrik Nuklir have reached an agreement to supply electricity generated by floating nuclear power units to electricity customers in North Maluku Province in eastern Indonesia. The agreement was signed on October 16, 2026, in Moscow during Russian Energy Week (REW), marking an important milestone in bilateral energy cooperation between Russia and Indonesia. Under the project plan, Rosatom State Corporation will deploy two FPU-...

2026-10-17

Idaho State University to Build Microreactor, Empowering Nuclear Energy Talent Development

Recently, Idaho State University (ISU) announced that it will collaborate with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and local nuclear technology company NuCube to jointly build a new microreactor to fully support the state's only undergraduate nuclear engineering program. It is understood that the project will carry out a major expansion and upgrade of the existing teaching and research reactor that has been in continuous operation since 1965, providing a cutting-edge technology operating platform for the next generation of nuclear engineers. This collaboration relies on the relevant advancement programs of the U.S. Department of Energy's Nuclear Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC), aiming to provide key resources and regulatory guidance for the research, development, and...

2026-10-16

ABS and U.S. Department of Energy Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Comprehensively Advance Maritime Applications of Commercial Nuclear Energy Technology

Recently, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the Office of Nuclear Energy of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at jointly advancing the deep application and industrial deployment of commercial nuclear energy technology in the maritime sector. Under the agreement, both parties will jointly manage the newly established Maritime Nuclear Applications Group (MNAG), providing comprehensive support for projects at the technical, regulatory, economic, and policy levels. It is understood that this collaboration covers floating platform nuclear energy systems, nuclear-powered commercial vessels, and the ports, shipyards, and industrial bases required to support the construction, operation, and maintenance of...

2026-10-15

Swiss Nuclear Forum Establishes Dedicated Nuclear Medicine Section to Help Optimize Regulatory Framework and Enhance Isotope Supply Security

Recently, the Swiss Nuclear Forum officially announced the establishment of a dedicated Nuclear Medicine Section, aimed at bringing together professional representatives from the pharmaceutical, medical, and scientific fields to jointly improve the framework conditions for nuclear medicine diagnosis and treatment in Switzerland, strengthen the stable supply of radionuclides, and accelerate the clinical application of innovative medical procedures. The Section is established under the Swiss Nuclear Forum, headquartered in Olten, and will take over and continue the relevant work of the former Swiss Alliance for Innovation in Nuclear Medicine, and will position itself...

2026-10-15

Oklo Advances Construction of Groves-2 Forge Isotope Pilot Facility, Deepening Medical and Industrial Isotope Layout

Recently, U.S. nuclear technology startup Oklo announced that it will further advance the construction of the Groves-2 Forge isotope production and processing pilot facility. Located in Texas, the facility aims to build on the successful demonstration experience of the company's previous Groves Isotope Testing Reactor to comprehensively expand irradiation, processing, purification, and commercialization readiness capabilities for key isotopes. It is understood that the Groves-2 Forge facility will integrate cutting-edge hot cell processing capabilities, covering the full process chain including isotope separation, product recovery, packaging, and transportation. The facility's initial production focus will be on lutetium-177 (Lutetium-177) used for cancer radiopharmaceutical therapy and other important therapeutic isotopes...

2026-10-15

US Oak Ridge National Laboratory Develops 3D-Printed Composite Molds, Significantly Shortening Construction Cycles for Advanced Nuclear Power Plants

According to reports, the US Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and its partners have successfully developed new 3D-printed composite molds that can shorten the production cycle of specialized concrete formwork for nuclear facilities from approximately six months to about two weeks. The project, titled Advanced Composite Formwork for Accelerated High-Precision Nuclear Infrastructure Construction, was awarded the 2026 CAMX Combined Strength Award for its breakthroughs in additive manufacturing and advanced materials. It is understood that the technology has been fully...

2026-10-16

China's First Actinium-225 Mass Production Qualification Lands in Chongqing: SPIC Isotope Synergy Accelerates Breakthrough in High-End Medical Isotope Supply Chain Bottleneck

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment recently officially issued a Class A unsealed radioactive material radiation safety license to SPIC Isotope Synergy (Chongqing) Technology Co., Ltd. The issuance of this administrative license marks that the company has officially become the first enterprise in China with full-chain legal qualifications for the mass production, sales, and use of the medical isotope Actinium-225 (Ac-225), filling the gap in China's large-scale supply of novel targeted radionuclides. SPIC Isotope Synergy is located in Bafu Town, Chongqing High-tech Zone, and has been selected for the 2026 Chongqing Potential Unicorn Enterprise Cultivation List. The first phase of the project has a total investment of 918 million RMB, with core technical equipment relying on self-built 120 MeV and 50 MeV high-power medical proton cyclotrons.

2026-10-15

Bruce Unit 4 Refurbishment Sets Record, Schedule Significantly Ahead of Unit 3

Recently, Bruce Power of Canada announced that the Major Component Replacement (MCR) project at Bruce Unit 4 has reached a key milestone. The installation efficiency of the unit's 480 calandria tubes set a new record, with overall progress further accelerated compared to the previous Unit 3. As a core life extension project for the CANDU heavy water pressure tube reactor, the MCR project encompasses the systematic removal and replacement of key core components, representing a major infrastructure undertaking spanning multiple years and aimed at extending the reactor's operational life by 30 to 35 years. During this construction phase, a six-axis robotic tooling system jointly developed by Bruce Power...

2026-10-16

South China Regional Office of the National Nuclear Safety Administration Completes Refueling Outage Inspection of Yangjiang Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2

The South China Regional Office of Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment successfully completed the nuclear safety supervision and inspection of the first criticality control point for the eighth refueling outage of Yangjiang Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 on October 11. After verifying item by item the prerequisites for reactor recriticality and confirming that the primary loop and related systems and equipment were in a controlled and compliant state, the supervisors signed off and released the criticality control point in accordance with the law, marking the successful completion of the on-site nuclear safety supervision task for the Y208 refueling outage of the unit. During the overlapping period of the 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, multiple operating units at several nuclear power bases along the South China coast successively entered routine refueling outage cycles, with on-site maintenance activities highly concentrated, and nuclear safety...

2026-10-15