Autonomous Tritium Micropowered Sensors
- NASA has awarded funding for Phase II of its Autonomous Tritium Micropowered Sensors (ATMS) project, which aims to develop nuclear-micropowered probes using tritium betavoltaic power technology for autonomous exploration of the Moon’s permanently shadowed regions.
- The ATMS concept has advanced the technology readiness level (TRL) from 1 to 2, validating theoretical models and feasibility assessments, and will now focus on refining the technology, addressing challenges, and elevating the TRL to 3.
- The project aims to develop a 5cm x 5cm gram-scale device that can support lunar spectroscopy and other applications, and will also explore its potential for use in planetary science, scouting missions for human exploration, and Earth-based applications such as biomedical implants and environmental monitoring.
- Phase II objectives include improving energy conversion efficiency and resilience of tritium betavoltaic power sources, optimizing NMP integration with sensor platforms, and assessing survivability under lunar landing conditions, with the goal of advancing TRL from 2 to 3.
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Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)
Peter Cabauy
City Labs, Inc.
The NIAC Phase I study confirmed the feasibility of nuclear-micropowered probes (NMPs) using tritium betavoltaic power technology for autonomous exploration of the Moon’s permanently shadowed regions (PSRs). This work advanced the technology’s readiness level (TRL) from TRL 1 to TRL 2, validating theoretical models and feasibility assessments. Phase II will refine the technology, address challenges, and elevate the TRL to 3, with a roadmap for further maturation toward TRL 4 and beyond, supporting NASA’s mission for lunar and planetary exploration. A key innovation is tritium betavoltaic power sources, providing long-duration energy in extreme environments. The proposed 5cm x 5cm gram-scale device supports lunar spectroscopy and other applications. In-situ analyses at the Moon’s south pole are challenging due to cold, limited solar power, and prolonged darkness. Tritium betavoltaics harvest energy from radioactive decay, enabling autonomous sensing in environments unsuitable for conventional photovoltaics and chemical-based batteries.
The proposal focuses on designing an ultrathin light weight tritium betavoltaic into an NMP for integrating various scientific instruments. Tritium-powered NMPs support diverse applications, from planetary science to scouting missions for human exploration. This approach enables large-scale deployment for high-resolution remote sensing. For instance, a distributed NMP array could map lunar water resources, aiding Artemis missions. Beyond the Moon, tritium-powered platforms enable a class of missions to Mars, Europa, Enceladus, and asteroids, where alternative power sources are impractical.
Phase II objectives focus on improving energy conversion efficiency and resilience of tritium betavoltaic power sources, targeting 1-10 ฮผW continuous electrical power with higher thermal output. The project will optimize NMP integration with sensor platforms, enhancing power management, data transmission, and environmental survivability in PSR conditions. Environmental testing will assess survivability under lunar landing conditions, including decelerations of 27,000-270,000g and interactions with lunar regolith. The goal is to advance TRL from 2 to 3 by demonstrating proof-of-concept prototypes and preparing for TRL 4. Pathways for NASA mission integration will be explored, assessing scalability, applicability, and cost-effectiveness compared to alternative technologies.
A key discovery in Phase I was the thermal-survivability benefit of the betavoltaic’s tritium metal hydride, which generates enough heat to keep electronic components operational. This dual functionality–as both a power source and thermal stabilizer–allows NMP components to function within temperature specifications, a breakthrough for autonomous sensing in extreme environments. Beyond lunar applications, this technology could revolutionize planetary science, deep-space exploration, and terrestrial use cases. It could aid Mars missions, where dust storms and long nights challenge solar power, and Europa landers, which need persistent low-power operation. Earth-based applications such as biomedical implants and environmental monitoring could benefit from the proposed advancements in betavoltaic energy storage and micro-scale sensors. The Phase II study supports NASA’s Artemis objectives by enabling sustainable lunar exploration through enhanced resource characterization and autonomous monitoring. Tritium-powered sensing has strategic value for PSR scouting, planetary-surface mapping, and deep-space monitoring. By positioning tritium betavoltaic NMPs as a power solution for extreme environments, this study lays the foundation for transitioning the technology from concept to implementation, advancing space exploration and scientific discovery.
