Project Omega, Charter Space partner on radioisotope satellite power

(SpaceEnergy) US nuclear technology company Project Omega and space insurance specialist Charter Space have announced a partnership to assess long-duration radioisotope power systems for spacecraft reliability and mission recovery.

The companies said on 20 October that their collaboration would examine how electricity sources independent of sunlight could reduce spacecraft failures, extend operating lifetimes and improve satellite insurability.

Project Omega is developing power systems intended to operate for years or decades without sunlight, refuelling or recharging.

The study will examine potential applications during orbital eclipses, solar storms and lunar nights, when conventional solar-powered spacecraft can face electricity supply constraints.

The partners will also evaluate a proposed Survival Telemetry and Recovery Module, an independently powered spacecraft beacon and telemetry system intended to retain diagnostic information during satellite anomalies.

The concept is comparable to an aircraft flight data recorder, potentially allowing operators to investigate failures and recover spacecraft that might otherwise become permanently inoperative.

Charter Space, based in El Segundo, California, provides insurance brokerage and underwriting technology for space, nuclear and defence industries.

Project Omega develops nuclear fuel recycling technology intended to recover materials for long-duration power systems and other applications.

The companies will assess how persistent electricity supplies could affect spacecraft loss rates, insurance costs, anomaly recovery and total mission economics.

Neither company disclosed a financial value, development timetable or planned in-orbit demonstration for the partnership.