- Zeno Power, a startup initiated through Vanderbilt’s Innovation Center, secures $15 million from NASA to develop a radioisotope Stirling generator for the Artemis missions.
- The funding is part of NASA’s $150 million Tipping Point initiative, aimed at advancing technologies that will enable sustainable exploration on the Moon and other celestial bodies.
Sep 11, 2023, 9:59 AM, In a monumental move to advance the future of lunar exploration, Zeno Power, a startup initiated through Vanderbilt University’s Wond’ry Innovation Center, has secured $15 million in funding from NASA. This funding is part of NASA’s larger $150 million Tipping Point initiative, which aims to develop technologies for sustainable human presence on the Moon and beyond.
A New Dawn for Lunar Energy
Zeno Power is leading Project Harmonia, a team that includes industry giants like Blue Origin, Intuitive Machines, NASA Glenn Research Center, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Sunpower Inc., and the University of Dayton Research Institute. The project aims to provide a reliable, long-lasting energy source capable of operating in the moon’s permanently shadowed regions and surviving the two-week-long lunar night—a feat not yet achieved commercially.
“Project Harmonia will provide the technology to transform the moon from a location darkened by night and shadow to one enlightened by science and exploration, ultimately for the good of the nation and humankind,” said Tyler Bernstein, co-founder and CEO of Zeno Power.
NASA’s $150 Million Tipping Point Initiative
The funding comes through NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate Tipping Point program, which has selected 11 U.S. companies, including Zeno Power, to develop technologies that could support long-term exploration on the Moon and in space. “Partnering with the commercial space industry lets us at NASA harness the strength of American innovation and ingenuity,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “The technologies that NASA is investing in today have the potential to be the foundation of future exploration.”
A Leap in Radioisotope Power Systems
Traditionally, radioisotope power systems (RPSs) have been powered by plutonium-238. However, Zeno Power’s novel design offers additional fuel options by using radioisotopes currently categorized as nuclear waste, such as americium-241. This innovation not only provides a sustainable alternative but also opens doors for mission classes that have not been pursued yet.
A Journey from Incubation to Innovation
Zeno Power was established within Vanderbilt’s Wond’ry Founder Program in 2018 and joined its startup incubator, Launch, in 2022. The company has previously raised $20 million in Series A funding and won a $30 million project grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to design and build the first commercially developed RPS-powered satellite by 2025.
