What is the story about?
What's Happening?
Zeno Power has signed a multimillion-dollar agreement with Orano, a French nuclear recycler, to secure a steady supply of americium-241 (Am-241) for its space nuclear batteries. This deal provides Zeno priority access to material recovered from used nuclear fuel in France, addressing the scarcity of plutonium-238 (Pu-238) used in many NASA deep space missions. Zeno is developing americium-fueled nuclear batteries to support NASA's lunar rovers, landers, and infrastructure on the moon. The company aims to conserve Pu-238 supplies for flagship missions to deep space by utilizing Am-241, which has a half-life of over 430 years, enabling power systems to operate for decades.
Why It's Important?
The agreement between Zeno Power and Orano is significant as it addresses the shortage of Pu-238, a critical isotope for NASA's deep space missions. By securing Am-241, Zeno can support long-duration space missions, ensuring that lunar missions can survive the harsh lunar night and continue delivering power for years. This development is crucial for the U.S. space industry, as it enhances the capability to conduct extended missions on the moon and potentially Mars. The deal also highlights the growing importance of nuclear power in space exploration, offering a sustainable solution to power challenges faced by space missions.
What's Next?
Zeno Power plans to fly an americium-fueled radioisotope power system by the end of the decade, leveraging the fuel from Orano to quickly scale its systems to meet domestic and international demand. The company is working with the Federal Aviation Administration and other agencies on regulatory pathways for its plans, expecting commercial missions to be approved within 12-24 months from launch vehicle selection. Additionally, Zeno is developing strontium-fueled batteries under a Department of Defense contract for shorter, maritime-focused missions, expanding its nuclear-powered systems for space and underwater applications.
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