F-1, Nuclear research reactor in Moscow, Russia
F-1 is a nuclear research reactor located on the grounds of the Kurchatov Institute in Moscow, built with a graphite moderator and natural uranium fuel. The core is surrounded by layers of shielding and was designed to produce thermal neutrons for use in physics experiments.
The F-1 went critical in late 1946, making it the first reactor to operate in the Soviet Union and the first outside the United States. It was built under the direction of Igor Kurchatov, whose work at this site laid the foundation for the entire Soviet nuclear program.
The F-1 is seen in Russia as the starting point of the country's nuclear science tradition, and researchers still treat it as a reference point for understanding early reactor design. It remains a working part of the Kurchatov Institute's scientific life rather than a museum piece.
The Kurchatov Institute sits in the northwestern part of Moscow and can be reached by public transport without too much difficulty. Because this is an active research facility, access is tightly controlled and any visit requires formal authorization arranged well in advance.
The F-1 is still operational today, making it one of the oldest reactors in the world that continues to function. It runs at such a low power level that it requires no active cooling system, relying instead on natural heat dissipation.
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