MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) The nuclear reactor at Kansas State University has turned 50.
To mark the anniversary, the reactor was powered up Tuesday at 8:27 p.m. the exact time it was brought online on Oct. 16, 1962. Students, administrators and current and past faculty were on hand for the occasion.
The university says the reactor is one of only 25 operating university research reactors in the nation. Kansas State reactor manager Jeff Geuther says it gives the university an advantage in performing research and training nuclear engineers.
The reactor is licensed to operate at up to 1250 kilowatts of thermal power, up from 100 kilowatts when it was first licensed.
Under supervision, students are able to operate the reactor, tour it or use samples irradiated in its core for experiments and projects.
