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Science / Mon, 13 Jul 2026 Interesting Engineering

How a tiny nuclear CubeSat could change the future of space exploration

Chris Young’s Beyond Earth column explores the intersection of space technology and policy, providing thought-provoking commentary on the latest advancements and regulatory developments in the sector. City Labs’ BOHR (Betavoltaic Orbital High-Reliability) satellite made history when it launched to space this month aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The world’s first commercial nuclear-powered satellite, and first nuclear CubeSat, reached low Earth orbit on July 7 thanks to SpaceX’s Transporter-17 mission. It was one of 81 payloads launched aboard the rideshare mission.

Chris Young’s Beyond Earth column explores the intersection of space technology and policy, providing thought-provoking commentary on the latest advancements and regulatory developments in the sector.

City Labs’ BOHR (Betavoltaic Orbital High-Reliability) satellite made history when it launched to space this month aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

The world’s first commercial nuclear-powered satellite, and first nuclear CubeSat, reached low Earth orbit on July 7 thanks to SpaceX’s Transporter-17 mission. It was one of 81 payloads launched aboard the rideshare mission.

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