It is located w⟋i India՚s nuclear weapons facility at BARC՚s Trombay campus (Maharashtra) .
Apsara Nuclear Research Reactor
Apsara was 1st nuclear research reactor in Asia.
It had become operational in BARC՚s Trombay campus in August 1956.
It was 1st nuclear research reactor indigenously developed in India.
Design was conceptualized in 1955 by Dr Homi Bhabha, father of Indian Nuclear programme.
Its name Apsara was coined by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Apsara was light water moderated (swimming pool-type) reactor w⟋max. power output of 1 megawatt thermal (MWt) .
It burned enriched uranium in form of aluminum alloyed curved plates.
It was utilised for various experiments including neutron activation analysis, radiation damage studies, forensic research, neutron radiography, & shielding experiments.
It was shut down in 2009, after more than 5 decades of service.
Apsara-Upgraded
Upgraded version is indigenously made like its ancestor.
It uses plate type dispersion fuel elements made of Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) .
It will help to increase indigenous production of radio-isotopes for medical application by about 50% mainly due to higher neutron flux.
It will be extensively used for research in nuclear physics, material science & radiation shielding.
Radioisotopes produced by it will be used in field food preservation, agriculture, & other industries apart from medicine for diagnosis & therapy.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
Formed in - 1954
BARC is India՚s premier nuclear research facility based in Trombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
It is multi-disciplinary research center w⟋extensive infrastructure for advanced research & development.
Its R&D covers entire spectrum of nuclear science, engineering & related areas.
BARC՚s core mandate is to sustain peaceful applications of nuclear energy, primarily for power generation.