Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator– tag –
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US Department of Energy Chronicles Six Decades of Space Nuclear Power, From Transit 4A to Mars Curiosity Rover Missions
Department of Energy USA Overview The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) outlined the history of nuclear power in space, beginning with the 1961 launch of the U.S. Navy's Transit 4A navigation satellite, the first spacecraft powered by a ra... -
Compact Nuclear Fission Power System for Mars Missions Demonstrates Stable Kilowatt-Scale Power Delivery
Journal of Nuclear Technology (Preprint) International Overview A compact nuclear fission power system designed for Mars missions has completed initial tests, confirming its capability for stable kilowatt-scale power delivery and high sa... -
City Labs Launches First FAA-Approved Commercial Nuclear-Powered Satellite, BOHR CubeSat, with Tritium Battery, Revolutionizing Deep Space and Lunar Night Exploration
Space Daily USA Overview Florida-based City Labs launched its BOHR CubeSat, powered by a tritium-based betavoltaic battery, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. This BOHR CubeSat is the first commercial spacecraft approved to carry a nuclear power ... -
NASA Contracts Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, Firefly for Lunar Cargo, Explores ‘PROMISE’ Nuclear Rover for Moon Base Development
SpaceQ USA Overview NASA has awarded approximately $600 million in new contracts to Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, and Firefly for lunar scientific payload delivery in late 2028, aiming to establish a sustained human presence on the Moo... -
DARPA Selects Seven Projects for ‘Rads to Watts’ Program to Develop Radioisotope Power for Deep-Sea and Space Environments
American Nuclear Society USA Overview DARPA has selected seven innovative projects for its 'Rads to Watts' program, focused on designing radioisotope voltaic cells to provide long-term power in extreme environments like deep-sea and spac... -
City Labs’ ‘BOHR Satellite’ with Tritium Nuclear Battery Reaches Orbit for First Time, Enabling Power in Sunless Environments
TNW USA Overview Florida startup City Labs successfully launched its first commercial nuclear power source, the BOHR satellite, into orbit. The satellite is powered by a tritium 'nuclear battery,' marking a critical first step towards en... -
U.S. DOE and NASA Partner with Industry for Lunar Fission Surface Power System Demonstration by Late 2020s
Department of Energy USA Overview The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and NASA announced plans to partner with American companies to develop a fission surface power system, aiming for a lunar demonstration by the late 2020s. This system ... -
NASA to Solicit Lunar Surface Power Ideas in July, Considers RTG-Powered PROMISE Rover for Moon’s South Pole
Payload USA Overview NASA plans to launch a new solicitation for lunar surface power in July and is considering sending the PROMISE rover, equipped with a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG), to the Moon. PROMISE, an engineering ... -
NASA Releases NextSTEP-3 Appendix A Draft Soliciting Technologies for Lunar/Cislunar Architecture, Including Vertical Solar Arrays and ISRU Oxygen Generation
NASA USA Overview NASA has released a draft Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) under NextSTEP-3 Appendix A, seeking to accelerate the technological maturity of critical systems for lunar and cislunar architectures. This solicitation aims to... -
NASA Seeks Industry Input for ‘Lunar Enabling Infrastructure Accelerator’ to Advance Moon Surface Power, ISRU, and Advanced Manufacturing
NASA USA Overview NASA has initiated a request for industry feedback on its 'Lunar Enabling Infrastructure Accelerator' draft, aiming to accelerate the development of critical lunar surface technologies. This effort targets key technolog...
