Valar Atomics has brought its Ward 250 helium-cooled test reactor to first criticality at the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab, confirming a controlled chain reaction in the integrated system and marking the company's second such milestone outside national labs.
Moments ago, Valar Atomics took Ward 250 critical for the first time. This fulfills President Trump’s EO 14301, which called for 3 advanced reactors to go critical by July 4th.
This is our second criticality as a company, and an important step toward our goal of power by July 4.
The company now targets power delivery from the reactor by July 4 to meet the executive order window, though exact timing for full operations remains unconfirmed beyond that stated goal.
DOE authorization, Utah state involvement, and prior DoD transport support enabled the build; how these ties influence commercial follow-on steps stays unclear from current details.
Many users congratulated Valar Atomics on achieving first criticality with the Ward 250 reactor because it marks real progress toward abundant energy, while a few questioned the project's timing or funding.
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America is going nuclear again 🇺🇸
It is awe inspiring to see the next generation of founders pull off miracle projects
BRAVO to @isaiah_p_taylor and the @valaratomics team
Moments ago, Valar Atomics took Ward 250 critical for the first time. This fulfills President Trump’s EO 14301, which called for 3 advanced reactors to go critical by July 4th.
This is our second criticality as a company, and an important step toward our goal of power by July 4.
Congrats!
Moments ago, Valar Atomics took Ward 250 critical for the first time. This fulfills President Trump’s EO 14301, which called for 3 advanced reactors to go critical by July 4th.
This is our second criticality as a company, and an important step toward our goal of power by July 4.
When Isaiah first started talking about Valar publicly, a lot of people didn’t think he’d be able to build a nuclear reactor, and they were pretty loud about it.
They are awfully quiet today.
Moments ago, Valar Atomics took Ward 250 critical for the first time. This fulfills President Trump’s EO 14301, which called for 3 advanced reactors to go critical by July 4th.
This is our second criticality as a company, and an important step toward our goal of power by July 4.
☢️/acc
Moments ago, Valar Atomics took Ward 250 critical for the first time. This fulfills President Trump’s EO 14301, which called for 3 advanced reactors to go critical by July 4th.
This is our second criticality as a company, and an important step toward our goal of power by July 4.
@shaunmmaguire @isaiah_p_taylor @valaratomics American dynamism is back.
A bunch of 20 year olds just shipped the impossible — complete American Dynamism acceleration
Moments ago, Valar Atomics took Ward 250 critical for the first time. This fulfills President Trump’s EO 14301, which called for 3 advanced reactors to go critical by July 4th.
This is our second criticality as a company, and an important step toward our goal of power by July 4.
This is a historic moment and the culmination of two years of work on the part of the Valar Atomics team. This is the most hardcore, intelligent, and driven people I’ve ever had the privilege of working with; which will be seen as we begin power ascension in the coming days.
Our mission at Valar Atomics is to make abundant energy for all mankind. The best way to make energy 10x cheaper today is to mass-scale nuclear fission. We began our mission by creating WardZero, our fully functional thermal prototype. Next, we took the NOVA core critical.
For Ward 250, criticality is just the beginning. Our goal remains power operations by July 4th.
Onward to abundant energy!
Congratulations @isaiah_p_taylor and @valaratomics on this important milestone!.
@POTUS set an incredibly ambitious goal, and American innovators stepped up and are delivering. 🇺🇸
Moments ago, Valar Atomics took Ward 250 critical for the first time. This fulfills President Trump’s EO 14301, which called for 3 advanced reactors to go critical by July 4th.
This is our second criticality as a company, and an important step toward our goal of power by July 4.
Today, we took the next step: criticality in the Ward 250 test reactor. Ward 250 is a TRISO-fueled High Temperature Gas Reactor (HTGR) designed for simplicity and scale, and is the first nuclear reactor ever air-lifted by a C-17.
The list of individuals who have spent their time and energy and talents to accomplish this feat is too long to list in one post, but I am incredibly grateful to all of them.
We’ve been honored to be become part of the community in Orangeville, Utah, the home of Ward 250. Many thanks to all of our government partners who made this possible: hundreds of individuals across the Trump administration, the DOE, the DoW, and the government of Utah.
@isaiah_p_taylor couldn't be prouder of the absolute maniacs with whom i work.
@isaiah_p_taylor The greatest team in nuclear. Splitting atoms again. I could not be prouder. 🇺🇸
Isaiah is a magnanimous man and wishes well to all those striving to make energy abundant
But I am his friend and admire him dearly
So to all the opps and haters, get wrecked. He is the Rockefeller of our time and will singularly make power too cheap to meter
Moments ago, Valar Atomics took Ward 250 critical for the first time. This fulfills President Trump’s EO 14301, which called for 3 advanced reactors to go critical by July 4th.
This is our second criticality as a company, and an important step toward our goal of power by July 4.
@isaiah_p_taylor we did it
@isaiah_p_taylor Incredible day Isaiah & team Valar!
So proud of you all / so grateful to be part of the journey
Even bigger things ahead 🏭📈
@isaiah_p_taylor 🇺🇸☢️
@isaiah_p_taylor LETS GOOOOOOOOOO
