Without access to the secretive facility, it is difficult to say with certainty that the reactor has restarted, but the institute says a Aug. 31 commercial satellite image shows white steam rising from a building next to the reactor. The building houses steam turbines and electric generators that are driven by heat generated by the reactor. The colour and volume of the steam is consistent with the electrical generating system being about to come online, indicating that the reactor is in or nearing operation, the institute says.