Assembly crews at the ITER facility have installed the sixth of nine vacuum vessel sectors, a critical step in the construction of the world's largest tokamak. The 1,100-ton module, which includes the vacuum vessel segment, thermal shielding, and two toroidal field coils, was lowered with millimeter precision into the machine's assembly pit. This operation marks the completion of 240 degrees of the 360-degree toroidal structure that will ultimately contain the fusion plasma. The successful placement of this component, designated Sector #1, is a significant physical milestone demonstrating the advanced heavy-lifting and alignment capabilities required for the project's complex assembly sequence. Source: ITER

Each sector module is a massive pre-assembled component, standing 17 meters high and weighing approximately 1,100 metric tons. The core of the module is the D-shaped vacuum vessel section, which is double-walled and constructed from specialized stainless steel. This structure is designed to operate under ultra-high vacuum conditions and withstand the extreme temperatures and neutron flux from the D-T fusion reaction. Integrated with each vessel section before transport to the pit are silver-coated thermal shields to manage heat loads and two of the main superconducting magnets—the 440-ton D-shaped toroidal field coils responsible for the primary plasma-confining magnetic field. Source: ITER

Each sector module is a massive pre-assembled component, standing 17 meters high and weighing approximately 1,100 metric tons.

The installation process is a major logistical and engineering feat, managed by a specialized team using a pair of 750-ton overhead bridge cranes working in tandem. The component is lifted from its assembly tool, transported across the assembly hall, and then carefully lowered into the concrete bioshield that encloses the tokamak. The final alignment requires positioning the massive structure to within millimeters of its neighboring sectors to allow for precise welding operations. These welds are critical for ensuring the integrity and vacuum seal of the completed torus, a process that is performed remotely by specialized robotic arms once the sectors are in place. Source: ITER

With six of the nine sectors now installed, the primary structure of the ITER vacuum vessel is visibly nearing completion. The final three sectors are in varying stages of pre-assembly and preparation in the main Assembly Hall. The next major steps in the machine's assembly will involve the installation of these remaining sectors to close the torus. Following the completion of the vacuum vessel, teams will proceed with the installation of internal components, such as the blanket and divertor modules, and the final integration of the central solenoid, poloidal field coils, and diagnostic systems required for achieving First Plasma. Source: ITER