SpaceX Sends First Commercial Nuclear-Powered Satellite into Orbit
SpaceX has launched the world’s first commercial nuclear-powered satellite, opening a new chapter in space technology and long-duration missions.
The BOHR (Betavoltaic Orbital High-Reliability) CubeSat, developed by Florida-based City Labs, was carried into low Earth orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket during the Transporter-17 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Unlike traditional satellites powered mainly by solar panels, BOHR uses a compact tritium-powered betavoltaic battery that converts energy from radioactive decay into electricity. The system is designed to provide a reliable power source in locations where sunlight is limited, including deep space and permanently shadowed lunar regions.
Although the satellite still relies on solar energy for some onboard functions, the mission demonstrates the commercial potential of nuclear-powered space technology and could support future spacecraft designed for extended missions beyond Earth orbit.
