Optimum Technologies has completed the Low-Profile Electric-Propulsion Nuclear Satellite (LENS) Mission Preliminary Design Review (PDR)
Optimum Technologies has completed the Low-Profile Electric-Propulsion Nuclear Satellite (LENS) Mission Preliminary Design Review (PDR) with a Radioisotope Power System (RPS) for the US Military with Zeno Power as the Prime Contractor
Sterling, VA, February 12, 2024 – Optimum Technologies, LLC (OpTech) is pleased to announce that it has completed the Low-Profile Electric-Propulsion Nuclear Satellite (LENS) Project Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the mission design and design integration of a cutting-edge radioisotope power system (RPS) into a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite for the U.S. Air Force. The $30 million project awarded to Zeno Power Systems aims to deliver the innovative satellite by 2026.
Zeno Power Systems, a startup founded in 2018, is the prime contractor for the Radioisotope-Powered Satellite. An RPS is a type of nuclear energy technology that converts the heat from decaying nuclear materials directly into electricity.
OpTech’s role in this project involves supporting the mission architecture and satellite configuration to effectively manage the thermal, electrical, propulsion, and power requirements while ensuring that the demonstration mission objectives in LEO align with the goals and objectives of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the broader U.S. government.
LT. Col. Thomas Nix, U.S. Space Force project manager at AFRL, provided approval for the completed event with positive feedback for the comprehensive review, satisfying the program entrance/exit criteria and meeting the customers’ expectations. “Incorporation of this advanced technology into a next-generation satellite platform enables constant maneuverability between different orbits, unlocking new capabilities for the Department of Defense.”
Zeno’s RPS system uses strontium-90, a radioisotope available in quantities to support government and commercial missions through the 2030s. This unique approach, coupled with OpTech’s expertise in satellite mission and system design, including production, integration, and testing, will help pave the way for regulatory approval and the satellite’s successful launch.
OpTech is registered as a Small Business Association (SBA) member and is well-positioned to provide its multi-disciplinary aerospace engineering and program management services to support the development of the RPS-powered satellite. OpTech’s team of subject matter experts is dedicated to architecting and developing spacecraft, payload structures, and missions that cater to the needs of both commercial and government sectors.
“We are excited to be partnered with Zeno Power Systems and to have helped achieve this key milestone for this enabling technology and meet the U.S. Government mission objectives,” said Jeffrey Gick, Co-Founder of Optimum Technologies. “This system approach and completed event signifies a key point in our program to demonstrate and advance capabilities of space technology.” (John Hildebrand and Jeffrey Gick founded Optimum Technologies in 2015).