Key Takeaways
- Framatome and Perpetual Atomics announced a strategic partnership to enhance the production of americium-based space batteries.
- The collaboration aims to support deep space exploration by industrializing manufacturing processes for radioisotope power systems.
- Americium-241, with a half-life of approximately 430 years, is highlighted as an ideal energy source for long-duration space missions.
Partnership to Enhance Space Battery Production
Framatome and Perpetual Atomics have established a strategic alliance through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand the manufacturing of americium-based radioisotope power systems, commonly known as “space batteries.” The agreement was signed at the Farnborough International Space Show and aims to advance the industrial processing of americium for radioisotope heater units (RHUs) and radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs).
These radioisotope power systems generate heat from the natural decay of radioactive isotopes, which can be utilized directly or converted into electrical energy. In particular, americium-241 is chosen due to its long half-life of approximately 430 years, making it suitable for space missions that require a consistent energy supply over extended periods.
The partnership seeks to address the increasing demand for reliable energy solutions in deep space exploration, emphasizing the need to industrialize manufacturing processes to keep pace with future missions. Dr. Kason Bala, Chief Commercial Officer for UK Defence and Space at Framatome Ltd., expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating it will push the boundaries of nuclear power technology to facilitate deep space exploration. He emphasized the integration of Perpetual Atomics’ leading-edge technology in radioisotope power systems with Framatome’s expertise in industrial production scales.
Professor Richard Ambrosi, Chief Scientific Officer and founder of Perpetual Atomics, emphasized the significance of leveraging the substantial inventory of americium in the UK and Europe. He noted the importance of technological maturity and manufacturing capabilities for the success of UK and European Space Agency (ESA) programs. The two companies are committed to developing scalable industrial solutions for radioisotope power systems.
The agreement also capitalizes on Framatome’s comprehensive experience in nuclear manufacturing and regulatory compliance, alongside Perpetual Atomics’ two decades of innovative expertise, particularly from the University of Leicester’s Space Nuclear Power group. Framatome Space and Framatome Ltd. are anticipated to play crucial roles in upcoming lunar and Mars exploration missions associated with UK and ESA initiatives in the coming decade.
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