Deep Space Energy, a Latvian space‑tech startup, has closed roughly €930,000 (about US$1.1m) in mixed public‑private financing to speed development of a compact radioisotope power system for orbital and lunar missions. The private portion—about €350,000—was led by Outlast Fund with angel investor Linas Sargautis, while public support of roughly €580,000 came from the European Space Agency, NATO’s DIANA initiative and the Latvian government.
The cash will fund engineering, testing and the regulatory work needed to qualify hardware for flight.
What they’re building
The company’s core unit, dubbed the Radioisotope Thermo‑Acoustic Linear Induction Generator (RTALIG), pairs a radioisotope heat source with a compact power‑conversion module. Each 50‑watt module is designed to deliver continuous electrical output regardless of sunlight or local conditions; modules can be stacked to meet higher loads. Deep Space Energy reports a conversion efficiency near 25%, which it says cuts required radioisotope mass by roughly fivefold compared with some legacy RTGs—an oft‑cited example being an estimate that about 2 kg of Americium‑241 could power a 50 W module versus roughly 10 kg for older designs.
Why this matters
Continuous, compact power is a practical game‑changer where solar arrays fall short: permanently shadowed lunar craters, long lunar nights, high‑value satellites in eclipsing orbits, and deep‑space probes. For operators, assured baseline power reduces mission risk, enables new service profiles and can improve economics by shortening downtime and lowering launch mass. For defense and security users, a small, persistent power source can support high‑duty sensors and communications suites that solar‑only systems cannot reliably sustain.
Technical and regulatory hurdles
The concept is promising, but several engineering and compliance challenges remain. Thermal management, radiation shielding, safe thermal coupling, and integration with platform architectures all need rigorous validation. Equally critical are regulatory approvals for launch and orbiting of radioactive material, reliable supply chains for Americium‑241, and clear end‑of‑life stewardship plans. The company says it plans European sourcing of fuel and a “power‑as‑a‑service” model that retains legal ownership of the radioactive source to simplify liability and regulatory compliance.
Market fit and business model
Deep Space Energy pitches a modular, service‑oriented approach: operators could trial single modules on demonstration payloads and scale up to multi‑module stacks as needs grow. The fuel‑as‑a‑service model aims to lower upfront capital barriers and centralise specialist handling, which could be attractive to commercial and government customers alike. Early adopters are likely to be providers of persistent Earth observation, deep‑space science platforms, and resilient communications or reconnaissance relays in MEO, GEO and HEO.
ESG and safety considerations
Radioisotope systems raise distinct environmental and stewardship questions. Reducing radioisotope mass and minimizing moving parts can lower handling complexity and operational waste, but responsible lifecycle management, transparent safety standards and independent audits will be essential to win procurement decisions. Investors and operators will be watching demonstrator missions, third‑party safety reviews, and supply‑chain assurances closely.
Next steps
Deep Space Energy’s roadmap focuses on iterative ground demonstrations, prototype refinement, compliance testing and partnerships with launch and satellite integrators. The company has active development contracts with ESA and is participating in NATO’s DIANA programme. Moving from lab benches to integrated field tests and then to flight qualification will be the decisive milestones for customer and investor confidence.
Strategic context
Founders argue that Europe’s changing geopolitical environment makes domestic resilience in space infrastructure more urgent. By offering a compact, efficient backup power capability—positioned for civil and defense use—the company aims to reduce operational vulnerability for surveillance and communications platforms while insisting the product is not a weapons system. The real proof, however, will come from certified supply chains, independent safety validation and successful in‑orbit demonstrations.
