Dhruva reactor

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The Dhruva reactor is India's largest nuclear research reactor. It was the first nuclear reactor in Asia proper.{{cite web |author1=Office of Scientific Intelligence |author-link=Office of Scientific Intelligence |title=Indian Nuclear Energy Program |url=https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu//NSAEBB/NSAEBB187/IN01.pdf |website=National Security Archive |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |accessdate=7 June 2020 |date=26 March 1958}} Located in the Mumbai suburb of Trombay at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), it is India's primary generator of weapons-grade plutonium-bearing spent fuel for its nuclear weapons program. Originally named the R-5, this open pool reactor first went critical on 8 August 1985 after 10 years of construction. However, the unit did not attain full power until 1988.{{cite web|url=http://cns.miis.edu/research/india/nuclear.htm|title= Selected Indian Nuclear Facilities|author=Andrew Koch|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011215135620/http://cns.miis.edu/research/india/nuclear.htm|archive-date=15 December 2001|year=1999}} The reactor experienced at least one serious accident when {{convert|4|metric ton}} of heavy water overflowed from the reactor core in 1985 following vibration problems.{{cite web|title=Dhruva Research Reactor|url=http://www.nti.org/learn/facilities/837/|website=Nuclear Threat Initiative|accessdate=21 May 2017}}

Designed as a larger version of the CIRUS reactor, Dhruva was an Indian designed project built to provide an independent source of weapons-grade plutonium free from safeguards.{{cite news|last1=Menon|first1=Amarnath K|title=Indian scientists achieve major landmark in atomic energy programme with Dhruva|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-scientists-achieve-major-landmark-in-atomic-energy-programme-with-dhruva/1/354434.html|accessdate=21 May 2017|work=India Today|date=3 January 2014}} The Dhruva project cost 950 million rupees. The reactor uses heavy water (deuterium) as a moderator and coolant. Aluminum clad fuel rods containing natural uranium are used to obtain a maximum thermal power output of 100 megawatts. The reactor can produce {{convert|20|–|25|kg}} of weapons-grade plutonium per year.{{cite magazine |last1=Albright |first1=David |last2=Hibbs |first2=Mark |date=31 August 1992 |title=India's Silent Bomb |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pAwAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA27 |magazine=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists }}

{{cite book |last1=Sidhu |first1=Waheguru Pal Singh |title=Enhancing Indo-US Strategic Cooperation |date=2013 |publisher=Routledge |location=Abingdon |isbn=978-1-136-04608-7 |page=22 |edition=2nd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bRQHjOslWeIC&pg=PA22 |language=en}}

Dhruva, in Indian mythology, is a prince blessed to eternal existence and glory as the Pole Star by Vishnu. It can also mean 'immovable' in Sanskrit.{{cite book|last1=Vinay|first1=Dr|title=Linga Purana|date=2006|publisher=Diamond Pocket Books|isbn=9788128806797|page=41|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zhIbyxoxHMgC&pg=PA41|language=en}}