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World's first commercial nuclear CubeSat set for SpaceX launch
Interesting Engineering • • science
Key Points:
- Miami-based City Labs is set to launch BOHR, the world’s first commercial nuclear-powered CubeSat satellite, on a SpaceX Transporter-17 rideshare mission scheduled for July 7, 2025.
- BOHR uses City Labs’ proprietary NanoTritium™ betavoltaic system, which generates continuous power from tritium beta decay at ultra-low radiation levels, offering a safe, compact alternative to traditional nuclear reactors without moving parts or fire risk.
- The satellite has secured Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval under strict regulatory frameworks, marking the first commercial space mission to obtain nuclear launch authorization.
- This mission aims to provide persistent, always-on power independent of sunlight or batteries, addressing challenges faced by solar-powered satellites in shadowed or deep-space environments.
- Supported by NASA, the Department of War, and the Air Force Research Laboratory, BOHR is positioned as a pathfinder for future nuclear-powered spacecraft critical to deep-space exploration and lunar missions like NASA’s Artemis program.
