Startup Ampera has unveiled the first 3D-printed nuclear reactor module, featuring a silicon-carbide core and pressure vessel for a thorium-based microreactor. Future systems are projected to deliver 15 or 30 megawatts for up to 30 years without refueling. The company anticipates power generation by 2027 and the nuclear module available to customers around 2030, pending regulatory approval. Founder and CEO Brian Matthews highlighted the prototype's fully 3D-printed silicon carbide core and pressure vessel, emphasizing its role in factory-built, mass-produced nuclear energy. This advanced technology and additive manufacturing provide a clear commercial path for accelerated market entry. Ampera is developing a subcritical, solid-state, factory-built thorium-based nuclear reactor, where "subcritical" denotes inability to sustain a chain reaction, preventing runaway excursions. "Solid-state" refers to a design using solid fuel, specifically TRISO particles with a thorium kernel surrounded by ceramic and carbon layers. Matthews advocates for thorium as the future of ultra-safe, clean power, with domestic TRISO production ensuring fuel supply and price stability. The reactor's heart is a spherical monolithic gyroid core, a complex shape optimized for heat transfer due to its large surface area, ideal for additive manufacturing. This 3D-printed silicon carbide core is designed for a three-decade operational life without refueling, capable of powering data centers. Ampera aims to industrialize factory-built nuclear power with near-term deployment.