India’s first atomic research reactor called APSARA became operational on August 4, 1956 at Tarapur near Mumbai. It was not only the first nuclear reactor in India but all of Asia to go operational.
India owes its Atomic program to Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha (1909-1966). in !945, he set up the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai with the financial support of the Tata Trust. Later, the Atomic Energy Establishment at Trombay was born under his guidance. This helped in creating the wide base for promoting Science and Technology.
Dr. Bhabha was instrumental in designing the reactor and it was build entirely by Indian engineers in a record time of 15 months.
Apsara is a swimming-pool-type reactor loaded with enriched uranium as fuel. The fuel core is suspended from a movable trolley in a pool filled with water. The pool water serves as coolant, moderator and reflector, besides providing the shielding.