Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Commercial Space Industry (New Space)   Space Defense & Militarization  

U.S. Air Force awards Antares $161 million to develop nuclear reactor for spacecraft

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The Department of the Air Force has awarded nuclear microreactor startup Antares a $161 million contract to develop and demonstrate a nuclear reactor for spacecraft. The award advances U.S. efforts to mature space-based nuclear power for future missions.

Discovered 2026-09-14T02:22:34.928644-07:00 | 2026-09-14T02:22:34.928644-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • The $161 million Department of Defense award for space nuclear power represents a significant government investment in advancing nuclear reactor technology for spacecraft.
  • Antares’ contract covers both development and demonstration, providing a defined path to mature a startup’s space nuclear power capability beyond the concept stage.
  • Space-based nuclear power could support future missions requiring sustained, high-performance electrical power, although the award concerns technology development rather than an operational deployment.

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SpaceNews.com
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First Seen
2026-09-14T02:22:34.928644-07:00
Latest Update
2026-09-14T02:22:34.928644-07:00
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