Deep Space Energy Closes €930K Pre-Seed Round, To Generate Electricity On The Moon
Latvian startup Deep Space Energy has successfully concluded its pre-seed funding round, raising €350,000. The round was led by the Outlast Fund and angel investor Linas Sargautis. Additionally, the company secured €580,000 in public contracts and grants…
Latvian startup Deep Space Energy has successfully concluded its pre-seed funding round, raising €350,000. The round was led by the Outlast Fund and angel investor Linas Sargautis. Additionally, the company secured €580,000 in public contracts and grants from the European Space Agency (ESA), NATO DIANA, and the Latvian government.
Development of Radioisotopic Generators
The funding will be allocated to advancing a radioisotopic generator, which aims to support European space and defense industries and power lunar surface exploration. This generator uses radioisotopes, materials derived from nuclear waste, to produce heat through natural decay. The generated heat is then converted into electric power, requiring significantly less radioisotope fuel compared to traditional thermo-electric generators (RTGs) currently employed in space missions.
Deep Space Energy is focusing on enhancing the resilience of strategic satellites through its radioisotope-based energy generator. This technology is specifically designed for high-value, dual-use satellites, aiming to improve operational reliability without any application in weaponry. The focus is on satellites in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), Geostationary Orbit (GEO), and Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO), which are crucial for military reconnaissance and early-warning systems.
Lunar Exploration and Future Prospects
The company plans to contribute to the Moon economy by addressing key energy challenges in lunar exploration initiatives, including NASA and ESA's Artemis, Argonaut, and lunar rover programs. The radioisotope power generator is engineered to support lunar night survival and operations in permanently shadowed regions, which is critical for extended scouting and prospecting missions.
Latvian startup Deep Space Energy has successfully concluded its pre-seed funding round, raising €350,000.
The technology requires approximately 2 kg of Americium-241 fuel to generate 50W of power for lunar rovers, compared to around 10 kg required by legacy RTG systems for similar outputs. This efficiency could enable lunar exploration missions to commence earlier and at increased mission volumes, given the projected Americium-241 production capacity of 10 kg per year by the mid-2030s.
The successful deployment of this technology could facilitate commercial lunar activity and resource utilization sooner than anticipated. By extending the operational lifespan of lunar rovers, the company aims to significantly reduce the costs associated with transporting payloads to the Moon, which currently stands at up to a million euros per kilogram.
Egita Poļanska, a partner at Outlast Fund, expressed alignment with the company's strategic goals, highlighting the potential for breakthroughs in space energy technology through new materials and smarter power systems. Linas Sargautis, who has joined the company's leadership team as an advisor, emphasized the strategic role of the Baltic region in space innovation and the contributions of Deep Space Energy to European space defense capabilities.
Based on reporting by techround.co.uk.