Valar Atomics, an El Segundo, California-based startup, announced on Monday that it has reached nuclear criticality, a crucial milestone for fission reactors. The company claims to be the first nuclear startup to achieve this, with support from a leading U.S. nuclear laboratory. This development aligns with a Trump administration pilot program aiming for three startups to hit the milestone by July 4, 2026.
Valar Atomics stated on Monday that it successfully achieved criticality, described as an essential nuclear milestone involving a critical fission reaction. The startup, located in El Segundo, California, accomplished this with assistance from one of the country's top nuclear laboratories.
The announcement follows closely after Valar Atomics revealed last week that it had raised $130 million in funding. Backers include Palmer Luckey, founder of Oculus, and Shyam Sankar, chief technology officer at Palantir. This financial boost supports the company's efforts in advanced nuclear technology.
Valar Atomics positions itself as the pioneer among nuclear startups in reaching this stage. The achievement occurs within the context of a Trump administration initiative, which sets a goal for three nuclear startups to attain criticality by July 4, 2026. While Valar Atomics credits the laboratory's help, it underscores the collaborative nature of pushing nuclear innovation forward.
This milestone represents a significant step in the development of next-generation nuclear power solutions, potentially accelerating safer and more efficient energy production. The program's broader aim is to bolster domestic nuclear capabilities through public-private partnerships.