The US has not operated a nuclear reactor in space since 1965. Antares now wants to change that with a $161 million defense award.

The nuclear microreactor startup has won a Strategic Breakthrough award from the US Space Force. It will use the funding to advance nuclear power systems for future space missions.

The award ranks among the largest current US defense investments in space nuclear power. It also gives Antares a path from reactor testing on Earth toward a potential flight system.

The program could eventually give spacecraft a persistent source of electricity. That matters as military satellites demand more computing power and advanced onboard systems.

Antares will first demonstrate its R1-S reactor design on the ground. Engineers will then integrate the system with a spacecraft for flight certification before launch.

The R1-S uses heat pipes to move heat away from its nuclear core. That design avoids many mechanical components found in conventional cooling systems.

Antares also plans to use its Mark-1 reactor for an operational ground-to-space system. Testing is scheduled to begin in 2027.

Mark-1 will generate electricity through a closed Brayton cycle power system. Antares expects the reactor to operate for more than six months during that test campaign.

The company sees nuclear power as more than an energy source. A reactor could give spacecraft greater freedom to maneuver without quickly exhausting limited power reserves.

Continuous electrical output could also support heavier computing workloads and directed-energy systems. Those capabilities could become increasingly important as military operations move into more contested orbital environments.

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