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How a small radioactive battery paves the way for transparent nuclear use in space
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Fusion42 · 24 July 2026 · Fusion42 review
City Labs launched the BOHR satellite aboard SpaceX's Transporter-17, the first commercial nuclear-powered satellite in orbit, carrying a compact tritium betavoltaic battery. The launch establishes the FAA's first-ever regulatory precedent for commercial nuclear space systems and demonstrates a transparency and safety framework that could define future norms for nuclear use in space.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Space Tech.
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You've just watched the regulatory gate open for commercial nuclear in space. City Labs proved the FAA pathway works; now every deep-space company that needs power beyond solar has a playbook and a precedent to follow.
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1 source · 24 Jul 2026
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