City Labs has launched what it describes as the world’s first commercial nuclear-powered satellite, marking a milestone in the development of alternative power systems for spacecraft.
The company’s BOHR (Betavoltaic Orbital High-Reliability) spacecraft was launched aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-17 rideshare mission. According to City Labs, it is also the first CubeSat to carry a commercial nuclear power system.
Demonstrating Betavoltaic Power in Orbit
The mission is intended to demonstrate City Labs’ NanoTritium betavoltaic technology as a dedicated power source for onboard payloads.
While the spacecraft’s primary systems continue to rely on conventional solar arrays, the nuclear-powered payload is designed to validate continuous electrical power generation independent of sunlight.
City Labs said the technology could support future missions operating in environments where solar power is limited, including deep-space exploration, permanently shadowed regions of the Moon, and long-duration autonomous sensing missions.
Peter Cabauy, chief executive officer of City Labs, described the launch as an important step for commercial nuclear technology in space.
“This is a historic step for commercial nuclear power in space.”
He added:
“BOHR demonstrates that safe, compact and regulatory-approved nuclear power systems are ready for routine commercial deployment. This capability enables persistent, always-on payload operations that are not constrained by sunlight or battery life.”
Regulatory Milestone for Commercial Spaceflight
According to City Labs, BOHR also became the first commercial spacecraft carrying a nuclear-powered payload to complete the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s launch authorization process established under National Security Presidential Memorandum-20.
The company received payload authorization from the FAA on September 30, 2025, following a launch safety review that included independent technical evaluation by Sandia National Laboratories.
City Labs said its tritium-powered NanoTritium system operates at very low radiation levels and was designed for safe handling, transportation, and integration with commercial launch vehicles.
The company said the mission is intended to support future civil, scientific, and national security spacecraft that require long-life, maintenance-free electrical power systems.
Headquartered in Florida, City Labs develops tritium-based nuclear micropower technologies for aerospace, industrial, and medical applications. The BOHR program has also received support through research initiatives involving the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX, NASA, SpaceWERX, and the Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund.
