Air Force Awarded $161 Million for Space Nuclear Power
Antares Nuclear will develop a microreactor to address a 60-year orbital power gap for future space missions.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Nuclear
Live Poll
Should the U.S. government prioritize the development of nuclear power for space exploration?
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Antares Nuclear a $161 million contract to advance space-based power systems. The project seeks to overcome maneuverability constraints and data processing limitations in orbit.
Why it matters
Space-based nuclear power enables persistent, high-capacity electrical generation that is critical for long-duration missions and lunar operations. This initiative aims to close a power gap existing since the last U.S. reactor launch in 1965.
Antares Nuclear successfully demonstrated zero-power criticality in its Mark-0 microreactor in June 2026. The firm utilizes High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) sourced from Centrus Energy, the only licensed domestic supplier.
The players
Antares Nuclear
A developer of space-grade microreactor technology with facilities in California, Idaho, and South Carolina.
Centrus Energy
An energy company that operates the only licensed HALEU production facility in the United States in Piketon, Ohio.
Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force
The defense authority responsible for managing acquisition and space-power development programs for the U.S. Air Force.
The details
Antares Nuclear is moving to a nuclear ground demonstration of its R1-S microreactor, which will be integrated into a spacecraft for flight certification. The reactor design utilizes HALEU — enriched uranium with a concentration of 5% to 20%—to provide a dense, reliable energy source capable of supporting heavier data computation in vacuum environments. The company coordinates development across its facilities in California, Idaho, and South Carolina.
Timeline
1965: The last U.S. space nuclear reactor mission, SNAP-10A, occurred.
December 2025: President issued Executive Order 14369.
June 2026: Mark-0 reactor achieved zero-power criticality.
2027: Scheduled testing of Mark-1 electricity-producing reactor.
2030: Planned nuclear reactor landing on the lunar surface.
The Tech Race
This development follows the strategic directives set by Executive Order 14369 to modernize national space capabilities. The project marks a significant shift as the U.S. looks to return to nuclear power in space after decades of reliance on solar alternatives.
While these reactors are intended for deep space and lunar applications, they represent a transition in aerospace power density that could eventually influence future commercial satellite capabilities. The current development phase remains focused on government-led flight certification.
The takeaway
The return of nuclear reactors to the U.S. space program marks a major shift toward high-capacity orbital operations. Observers should track the 2027 test of the Mark-1 reactor to verify the system performance against its projected power output.
What happens next
The industry will monitor the 2027 testing of the Mark-1 electricity-producing reactor and the subsequent 2030 target for a lunar surface landing.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest advancements in the field of Nuclear.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nuclear Engineering International.
Live Poll
Should the U.S. government prioritize the development of nuclear power for space exploration?
