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Science / Tue, 14 Jul 2026 The Indian Express

Knowledge Nugget | SpaceX’s latest launch raises a question: What powers satellites?

BOHR is a demonstration mission designed to test City Labs’ proprietary NanoTritium betavoltaic micropower source in space for the first time. Knowledge Nugget: World’s first commercial nuclear-powered satellite and how are satellites powered in spaceSubject: Science and TechnologyWhy in the news? SpaceX has successfully launched what is being described as the world’s first commercially built nuclear-powered satellite, marking a significant milestone for space-based nuclear technology. Let’s understand the nuclear-powered satellite and what powers the satellites in space. BOHR is a demonstration mission designed to test City Labs’ proprietary NanoTritium betavoltaic micropower source in space for the first time.

BOHR is a demonstration mission designed to test City Labs’ proprietary NanoTritium betavoltaic micropower source in space for the first time. (Image: X/ Museum of flight)

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Knowledge Nugget: World’s first commercial nuclear-powered satellite and how are satellites powered in space

Subject: Science and Technology

Why in the news?

SpaceX has successfully launched what is being described as the world’s first commercially built nuclear-powered satellite, marking a significant milestone for space-based nuclear technology.

Let’s understand the nuclear-powered satellite and what powers the satellites in space.

Key takeaways:

1. The satellite, called BOHR (Betavoltaic Orbital High-Reliability), was developed by Florida-based company City Labs and lifted off on July 7 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the company’s Transporter-17 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

2. BOHR is a demonstration mission designed to test City Labs’ proprietary NanoTritium betavoltaic micropower source in space for the first time.

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