goingcritical:f-1Soviet Union · Research reactor

F-1

Developer: Laboratory No. 2 (Kurchatov Institute)

Site: Moscow, USSR (Kurchatov Institute)

Status: Critical since December 25, 1946 critical

Summary:

First reactor to go critical in Europe; launched the Soviet nuclear program and ran until 2012

Details

DesignGraphite-moderated natural uranium pile
Capacity0.024 MW (thermal where reported)

Milestone history

  1. Announced —
  2. Construction start —
  3. Fuel load —
  4. First criticality December 25, 1946

References

  1. IAEA, F-1 reactor 60th anniversary
  2. Atomic Archive, nuclear firsts