History of Science and Engineering Annotation << Back To the 70th anniversary of the start of the Soviet Atomic Project. Part 2: I.V. Kurchatov, plutonium and uranium-graphite reactor B.S. Gorobets Unusual circamstances of nomination of Igor Kurvhatov to be the chief scientific supervisor of the Soviet atomic project are treated. Нe headed the project of building the base of atomic raw materials and industry in the USSR. Information on plutonium and its advantages compared to uranium-235 as nuclear fuel is given. Principals of the work of nuclear uranium-graphite reactor producing plutonium are described. Its advantages and short-comings as against heavy water reactor are considered. The proces of building up the first reactor on an industrial scale which took place in the Middle Urals is depicted. Key words: Igor V. Kurchatov; Alexander I. Leipunskii; plutonium; heavy water; uranium-graphite reactor. Contacts: E-mail bgorobets@rambler.ru Pp. 26-36.