First TRISO-based small modular reactor reaches criticality in test
Antares' Mark 0 small modular reactor, based on TRISO fuel, reached criticality at Idaho National Laboratory—the first new nuclear design to do so under a DOE push to accelerate development. The test is non-power-generating and aims to validate physics and safety data for licensing; full power generation is expected next year, with DoD’s Project Pele and NASA backing the effort.