The paperwork is done. Every tool and system has been checked, both visually and with the proper instruments. A "functional briefing" has reminded everyone involved of how the operation will proceed, step by step, and clarified the chain of command. On Tuesday this week, the delicate and complex "extraction" of vacuum vessel sector module #6 from the assembly pit will begin. The same team responsible for the lift and installation of the 1,350-tonne sector module in May 2022 will be on deck this week—in all, close to 50 people working for the ITER Organization and contracting companies. Working in close coordination, they will lift the sector module out of the assembly pit and transfer it to one of the twin sector sub-assembly tools (SSAT-2), where it will be disassembled so that some of its elements (the vacuum vessel sector itself and thermal shield panels) can be readied for repair. Every tool and system has been checked, both visually and with the proper instruments. "Extracting" might be the semantic opposite of "inserting," but in the context of this huge component the extraction will not be a perfect reverse operation. Procedures and tools have been adapted to deal with a situation that was not initially anticipated, but that is now planned through a carefully constructed scenario. Late on Monday afternoon, as the last details were being worked out, the team members were both focused and confident. "We have the best people on the ground," confided Daniel Coelho, the ITER assembly engineer who will coordinate the operation.

A 110-tonne central solenoid module manufactured by General Atomics (San Diego, California) is on its way to the ITER construction site in southern France. Six modules will be stacked to form the complete central solenoid magnet. As part of its procurement commitments to ITER, the US Domestic Agency is supplying seven superconducting modules (including one spare), the elements of the central solenoid support cage (18 key blocks, 27 interior and exterior tie plates...), and the bespoke tools required for the assembly of the central solenoid magnet at ITER. The component that is travelling now is the third of seven modules expected on site. The first, which arrived in September 2021, is currently on a bespoke platform in the Assembly Hall, where the ITER team is performing the requisite assembly steps that must be carried out before the second module is added. These include the creation of specialized electrical connections for the superconducting "leads" that deliver current to the central solenoid modules, as well as inspection and testing. 

In the course of her work, French physicist and Minister of Higher Education and Research Sylvie Retailleau has designed and used several kinds of cryostats. None, however, can compare with the ITER cryostat that she saw as she peered into the Tokamak assembly pit. "The cryostats I used for my research can sit on a table and their volume is only a tiny fraction of ITER's. This is absolutely amazing." The Minister, who visited on Thursday 29 June, already knew a lot about ITER. But seeing it for herself made her take the full measure of the challenges the project, which she described as both "scientific and industrial," is facing. "When I see the size and complexity of the components; when I am told of their micrometric specifications, unprecedented at such a scale; when I imagine how long it took to manufacture them and how long it will take to test them ... I understand the project's timeline better." But whereas the physicist and former university president knows from experience that the pace of research can be slow, the politician is acutely aware of the need for "milestones" to highlight a project's progress—especially as far as ITER is concerned.

Over the past few years, French President Emmanuel Macron has demonstrated a strong interest in ITER. In April 2018, he had asked then-ITER Director-General Bernard Bigot to accompany him on his state visit to the United States. Two years later, in July 2020, he hosted ITER's start-of-machine-assembly ceremony (virtually) that brought together government leaders from China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United States. Last week, on 27 June, President Macron was in Marseille to inaugurate the replica of the undersea Cosquer Cave and to deliver an important address at the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (Mucem) whose architect, incidentally, also designed the ITER Headquarters building in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance and the International School PACA (EIPACA Manosque) that serves ITER families. Present at both events, ITER Director-General Pietro Barabaschi took the opportunity to invite President Macron to visit ITER. Last week, on 27 June, President Macron was in Marseille to inaugurate the replica of the undersea Cosquer Cave and to deliver an important address at the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (Mucem) whose architect, incidentally, also designed the ITER Headquarters building in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance and the International School PACA (EIPACA Manosque) that serves ITER families. Present at both events, ITER Director-General Pietro Barabaschi took the opportunity to invite President Macron to visit ITER.

The second edition of the Fusion for Energy Contracting Professionals Roundtable took place at ITER Headquarters from 26 to 28 June 2023. The event, organized in collaboration with the International Nuclear Law Association (INLA) and the ITER Organization, focused on innovative legal thinking for successful fusion megaprojects. During the three-day event, participants worked together to discuss and develop conditions for the successful delivery of fusion megaprojects. Themes such as contract strategies, forms of contract, nuclear liabilities, export control, insurance, competition law, public procurement law, intellectual property law and the regulation of fusion technologies were at the centre of the discussions. Approximately 300 participants from 20 countries took part. See this report on the Fusion for Energy website.

The JT-60SA tokamak—a joint program of fusion research and development agreed and co-financed by the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) and the government of Japan—has officially restarted operations, according to news posted to the JT-60SA website.  On 30 May 2023, the team kicked off vacuum pumping operations to evacuate particles from the vacuum vessel and cryostat. Leak testing of the cryostat, cryostat helium pipes and vacuum vessel followed, before steps were taken to initiate magnet cooldown. The cooling of the JT-60SA magnets has been underway since 14 June and is proceeding steadily; you can follow progress on this webpage. JT-60SA has been designed to support the operation of ITER by following a complementary research and development program, and to investigate how best to optimize the operation of fusion power plants that are built after ITER. Further details of its experimental program are explained in the JT-60SA Research Plan. During device commissioning in 2021, a short circuit at the terminals of one of the machine's largest poloidal field coils resulted in a period of assessment, analysis and repair. The restarting of the device is excellent news for the integrated project team and for the fusion community as a whole.

In the latest episode of ITER Stories (Season 2, Episode 5), hear what it's like to move from abroad for the ITER Project ... from the point of view of five ITER spouses. In "ITER Spouses, A Journey of Transformation," Mansi, Joke, Moon-Jeong, Zijin and Pieter speak about their experiences moving to Provence to support their spouses and their voyage into the ITER World. From raising children, to learning the ropes of living in Provence, rebuilding identities, and taking life into their own hands, they share thoughts that may be interesting to families who are considering a move to ITER in the future, other expats, or the simply curious. Listen to the latest episode directly on the ITER website or through Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, PodBean, Spotify, or Tune In.