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Japan Unveils Nuclear Battery for Century-Long Space Exploration

5/15/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Japan is on the brink of a groundbreaking innovation: a nuclear battery designed to power space probes for over a century. By harnessing americium from radioactive waste, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, alongside JAXA and AIST, plans to unveil a prototype by 2029. This revolutionary technology could transform deep space exploration, offering a sustainable energy source beyond solar power.

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Story summary

Japan is on the brink of a groundbreaking innovation: a nuclear battery designed to power space probes for over a century. By harnessing americium from radioactive waste, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, alongside JAXA and AIST, plans to unveil a prototype by 2029. This revolutionary technology could transform deep space exploration, offering a sustainable energy source beyond solar power.