Antares, a nuclear fission energy company developing microreactors for defense and space applications, today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has approved the company’s Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis (PDSA) for its Mark-0 reactor, Antares’ first demonstration reactor, scheduled to achieve criticality before July 4, 2026 under DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program. The PDSA is an important milestone. With this approval, the DOE is certifying that Antares’ reactor, facility, and planned operations meet the standards and expectations of the Department. This approval validates the company’s safety case and establishes a clear pathway to final DOE authorization as Antares prepares for fabrication, assembly, installation, and operation. Antares is one of a select group of companies participating in the DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program, which enables advanced reactor demonstrations at national laboratories. The Antares Mark-0 will be among the first reactors to reach criticality, or achieve a controlled, self-sustaining fission reaction, under the program. “The DOE approval of our PDSA is an important step on our way to criticality and ultimately producing power for defense and space applications. Safety is at the core of everything we do, and we thank the DOE for their continued partnership,” said Jordan Bramble, CEO of Antares. “We are excited to turn on our low-power demonstration unit before July 4, and we look forward to learning valuable lessons on fueling, reactor controls, and the physics of our core from our Mark-0 operations.”

Full report : U.S. DOE’s safety authorization puts Antares Industries months away from its first nuclear reactor demonstration at Idaho National Laboratory.

For more see the OODA Company Profile on Antares Industries.