Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation and Avalanche Energy will develop small, nuclear-powered spacecraft prototypes for space missions under contracts awarded by the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), with in-space demonstrations set for 2027.
Space News reported that USNC is proposing a chargeable, encapsulated nuclear radioisotope battery called EmberCore, while Avalanche will demonstrate Orbitron, a handheld micro-fusion reactor.
DIU, a Silicon Valley-based Pentagon organisation that works with commercial industries and startups, awarded both companies “other transaction” contracts to demonstrate nuclear propulsion and power technology for future DoD space missions. Other transaction contracts, increasingly used in military space projects, are negotiated faster than traditional defence procurements.
Space News reported that USNC is proposing a chargeable, encapsulated nuclear radioisotope battery called EmberCore, while Avalanche will demonstrate Orbitron, a handheld micro-fusion reactor.
DIU, a Silicon Valley-based Pentagon organisation that works with commercial industries and startups, awarded both companies “other transaction” contracts to demonstrate nuclear propulsion and power technology for future DoD space missions. Other transaction contracts, increasingly used in military space projects, are negotiated faster than traditional defence procurements.
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