Small steps, big results

2026-05-27 - Five sector modules are now in the ITER tokamak pit. Vacuum vessel sector module #4 was installed in an overnight operation from 26 to 27 May 2026.

2026-05-26 - 7:00 a.m. on lift day: a pre-lift briefing gathers all of the people who will be managing the first phase of the lift operation.

2026-05-26 - In a two-day operation that begins on Tuesday 26 May, assembly teams are transporting vacuum vessel sector module #4 to the Tokamak Building and lowering it into the tokamak pit. When completed, five of nine sector modules—over half—will be in place.

2026-05-21 - The first toroidal field coil has been successfully cooled down to 4 K (minus 269 °C) in the ITER magnet cold test facility and high current tests will begin soon.

2026-05-21 - Activities have begun at the ITER magnet cold test facility, where selected superconducting magnets will be tested at their operating temperature of 4 K and up to full current before installation in the machine.

2026-05-21 - Approximately 300 students take part in the 2026 ITER Robots competition in Pertuis, France, on Thursday 21 May. Each school team had built a Lego robot and programmed it to perform ITER-like robotics tasks such as grasping, lifting and positioning.

2026-05-20 - Members of the ITER Council Management Advisory Committee (MAC) visit key infrastructure on the ITER site, including the control room where operators are managing the cooldown of the first magnet in the ITER magnet cold test facility.

2026-05-13 - The rotation took just under 12 hours, beginning at dawn on 13 May and concluding shortly before 6 p.m.

2026-05-13 - Sector #3, as it is flipped over to expose its second side.

2026-05-12 - Only a few days after its arrival at ITER, vacuum vessel sector #3 has been positioned under a gantry crane for an outdoor "flip" operation that will expose its second side. By avoiding the use of tooling in the Assembly Hall for this operation, days are saved against the assembly schedule.

2026-05-12 - The self-propelled modular transporter is taking vacuum vessel sector #3 outdoors, where it will be rotated under a gantry crane to expose its second side for bevel repair.

2026-05-07 - A vacuum vessel sector, still in its protective transport housing, is framed by the open doors of the Cleaning Facility as it is transported to the workshop across the way. Only one more sector is expected to arrive later this year.

2026-05-07 - Vacuum vessel sector #3 is brought into the former Cryostat Workshop, where the protective housing will be removed and the component will be prepped for a "flip" operation later this week to expose its un-repaired side.

2026-05-07 - Vacuum vessel sector #3 (left, in housing) is the second-to-last sector required for the ITER tokamak. On its arrival, Thursday 7 May, it is parked outdoors near the upper cylinder of the cryostat (right).