SpaceX has launched the world’s first commercially built nuclear-powered satellite. It opens a new chapter in space-based power technology. The satellite, named BOHR, was sent into orbit on July 7, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-17 rideshare mission. The launch took place from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The Falcon 9 mission carried 81 payloads, with satellite deployments beginning around 50 minutes after liftoff. BOHR, developed by Florida-based City Labs, will demonstrate its NanoTritium betavoltaic micropower technology in space. The mission aims to test whether compact nuclear power systems can support long-duration space operations.
BOHR uses a tritium-based betavoltaic power source. The system converts energy from the natural decay of tritium into electricity through a semiconductor structure. Unlike traditional nuclear reactors, the technology does not rely on a fission process. It also has no moving parts or liquid fuel systems. City Labs remarked that the satellite uses solar power for its main spacecraft operations.
The nuclear battery will power and validate the primary payload during the demonstration mission. The company believes the technology can provide continuous power for applications that require long operational periods. Such systems could support missions where sunlight is limited or unavailable.
Launching nuclear-powered equipment into space requires extensive safety reviews. BOHR became the first commercial space mission to use the Federal Aviation Administration’s nuclear launch approval pathway under National Security Presidential Memorandum-20. The policy framework was introduced in 2019 to update procedures for spacecraft carrying nuclear systems.
The FAA later updated its launch regulations in 2020. City Labs said its payload authorization was confirmed in September 2025. The company received regulatory support from Sandia National Laboratories during the approval process. The safety assessment was led by City Labs engineer Kevin Makinson and independently reviewed by Sandia National Laboratories.
The development comes as space agencies look for reliable power sources for longer missions. Continuous energy systems are considered important for future exploration beyond Earth’s orbit. NASA’s Artemis program aims to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon.
Power solutions that can operate without constant sunlight could support activities in permanently shadowed lunar regions. City Labs confirmed that the BOHR mission could help develop systems for deep-space operations, autonomous sensors, and other long-duration applications.
Nuclear power systems have been used in space missions for decades, especially for deep-space exploration. However, BOHR represents a move towards smaller commercial nuclear technologies designed for broader applications. The mission will provide data on the performance of betavoltaic technology in orbit.
Its results could influence the development of future spacecraft that require reliable power over extended periods. BOHR’s launch marks an early step in testing commercial nuclear power systems for space. The technology will now be evaluated as the satellite begins its orbital demonstration.
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