image: The space nuclear power programme team.
Credit: University of Leicester/Space Park Leicester
Transformative technology that harnesses the power of nuclear material for space missions is set to enable a whole range of new space missions as Space Park Leicester launches Perpetual Atomics, a bold new start-up to commercialise its research.
The University of Leicester is excited to announce the launch of a new spin-out company, Perpetual Atomics, which is set to revolutionise the application of nuclear technology in space.
Perpetual Atomics is a space nuclear power systems, space science and exploration business that will commercialise the know-how and expertise in space nuclear power developed over more than 20 years at the University of Leicester.
Perpetual Atomics, will aim to bring innovative solutions to power challenges in space missions, ensuring sustainability and reliability in some of the harshest environments known to humanity.
Perpetual Atomics will be announced to visitors of International Astronautical Congress 2024 on the UK Space Agency stand, MS-B05, on Tuesday 15 October.
Professor Richard Ambrosi, Executive Director of Space Park Leicester, said: “Since Space Park Leicester last attended the International Astronautical Congress we’ve seen some exciting developments in space nuclear power, and we are delighted to be able to share more on those at 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milan this October.
“We are entering a new chapter in our journey, one that will see us harness the potential of nuclear technology to power deep space exploration and to pioneer new frontiers and are ready to bring others with us on that journey. The use of nuclear power in space is not just a concept for the future—it’s happening now.”
Building on the success of attendance in Paris in 2022, a team of leading experts from the University of Leicester’s space nuclear division will be present in Milan, showcasing cutting-edge advancements and discussing the future of nuclear power in space exploration.
The technology at the heart of the new venture has the potential to enable longer, more ambitious missions beyond Earth’s orbit in some of the harshest environments of deep space. Perpetual Atomics aims to establish a new global market leader in mature radioisotope power solutions based on research from the University of Leicester.
Perpetual Atomics’ mission builds on two decades work in developing radioisotope power systems by the Space Nuclear Power group at the University of Leicester. These power systems use the heat generated from the decay of radioisotopes, and can be used to provide heat to spacecraft, or converted to electricity to power key subsystems. Their Radioisotope Heater Units (RHUs) and Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator or RTG (also sometimes referred to as a 'space battery') use americium fuel, which can provide stable power outputs to spacecraft for many decades.
Based at Space Park Leicester, the University of Leicester’s £100 million science and innovation park, where a space nuclear power community is being developed, the team are the main developer of radioisotope thermoelectric generators in Europe. The technology development has been funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) European Devices Using Radioisotope Energy (ENDURE) program, as well as the UK Space Agency.
The Perpetual Atomics team is looking forward to working with a number of national and international partners to expand the use of radioisotope power technologies in space.
The investment in Perpetual Atomics has been made by Reef Global, the impact investment division within Reef Origin. Piers Slater, Reef Global Executive Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at Perpetual Atomics commented: “We are very excited that our first investment in the space sector is in Perpetual Atomics a business aligned with Reef Global’s goal to deliver a sustainable earth and space economy. We thank both University of Leicester and the co-founders for giving us the opportunity to invest in and support the commercialisation and scale up of Perpetual Atomics an innovative and exciting business led by a talented team with the shared ambitions of building a pioneering global space company from the UK.”
Professor Sarah Davies, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Leicester said: “Perpetual Atomics is an exemplar of the type of business that Space Park Leicester was established to create: originating from world-leading research that has been nurtured at the University of Leicester for many years, and enabled by the dedicated, highly skilled and innovative community at our flagship Space Park Leicester. The spin-out launch will seize an opportunity that is already pushing new frontiers for the space industry globally, and we are excited to see it do the same for humanity’s exploration beyond our world. It also further cements Leicester’s place as the UK’s Space City, building on our city’s long heritage in space and its contribution to the region’s economy.”
Julie Black, Director of Missions and Capabilities at the UK Space Agency, said: "The University of Leicester has long been at the forefront of world leading research into innovative space technologies. This addition of an exciting new start-up to Space Park Leicester continues this tradition of innovation and highlights the skilled workforce in the region.
"The cutting-edge technology that the team at Perpetual Atomics are developing could not only harness nuclear power to sustain exploration of space for longer periods of time but allow us to venture further into space than ever before, enabling more science and bringing more benefits back to Earth.”
William Wells, Deputy Director Research and Enterprise at the University of Leicester, said: “At the University of Leicester we are committed to seeing our globally leading research deliver real world impact, Perpetual Atomics will transform power solutions for space and will form part of a growing community of innovative energy businesses at Space Park. In addition it becomes a further business at Space Park spun out of research at Leicester.”