Under ConstructionOther / Unclassified
Gravity Reactor Pilot
📍 KSDeveloper: Deep FissionVendor / Tech: Deep Fission
Capacity
15 MW
Expected Operation
2026
Reactor Type
Deep Fission Gravity / Deep Fission Borehole Reactor-1
Regulatory Status
Ground broken Dec 2025 and DOE OTA signed; ~6,000-ft data-acquisition borehole completed; prototype reactor canister on site; non-nuclear Proof-of-Concept Well Program under way. Missed July 4, 2026 criticality goal; nuclear work expected in 2027.
Details
Primary Use
Demonstration
Construction Start
2026
Research detail · verified 2026-10-10
Stage
Under construction
Commercial power
No (test, research, military or demonstration)
Stated target operation
Full-power operations targeted first half of 2027 (stated by Deep Fission, per ANS 2026-07-02); company expects to apply for NRC commercial license in early 2027
Key dates
2025-08-12 selected for DOE Reactor Pilot Program; 2025-12 ceremonial groundbreaking at Great Plains Industrial Park and OTA signed with DOE; early 2026 first test well drilled to ~6,000 ft; 2026-06 construction partnership with Day & Zimmermann announced
Workforce
Labette County Commission backs the Great Plains Industrial Park–Deep Fission joint venture citing local jobs; Labette Community College says it is expanding workforce programs through partnerships including Deep Fission; construction partner Day & Zimmermann. Posting for Reactor Operator/Senior Reactor Operator in Parsons (2026-09-04). Community Advisory Group and a local resident liaison hired.
Not verified / conflicts
Labette Community College / Labette County Commission partnership statements came from search-result summaries, not pages I opened in full. Early-2027 NRC application statement from search summary of NEI Magazine article. No job counts stated.
Sources
- https://www.ans.org/news/article-8178/the-deadline-arrives-checking-in-on-the-reactor-pilot-program/
- https://www.hppr.org/2026-07-23/the-one-mile-underground-kansas-reactor-didnt-meet-a-july-4-goal-but-is-still-on-track
- https://www.wibw.com/2025/12/04/groundbreaking-set-next-week-underground-nuclear-reactor-parsons/
- https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/doe-announces-first-selections-for-pilot-reactor-programme
- https://www.energy.gov/node/4852259
- https://www.koamnewsnow.com/news/morning-show/wake-up-recap-deep-fission-partnership-in-parsons-leadership-training/article_3b34f338-0c33-4ac2-b10c-164b284b2649.html
- https://www.neimagazine.com/news/deep-fission-starts-kansas-borehole/
- https://www.nukeworker.com/job/employer/deep-fission/5164/
Key Organizations
Developer
Deep Fission
State Policy Context
View nuclear-related legislation and energy stats for Kansas