SBIR-STTR Award

Next-Generation Radioisotope Power System to Enable Space Domain Awareness
Award last edited on: 11/16/2023

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : AF
Total Award Amount
$799,093
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
AF203-CSO3
Principal Investigator
Jake (Jacob) Matthews

Company Information

Zeno Power Systems Inc

24 Spoede Lane
Saint Louis, MO 63141
   (314) 422-3811
   N/A
   www.zenopowersystems.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 01
County: St. Louis

Phase I

Contract Number: FA8649-21-P-0591
Start Date: 3/8/2021    Completed: 6/8/2021
Phase I year
2021
Phase I Amount
$49,608
A 2018 Army study cited that U.S. and allied forces incurred 18,000 casualties due to refueling and resupply operations in Iraq and Afghanistan contingency zones. In 2009, the House Armed Services Committee declared that it costs U.S. taxpayers $400/gall

Phase II

Contract Number: FA8649-22-P-0718
Start Date: 3/8/2022    Completed: 6/11/2023
Phase II year
2022
Phase II Amount
$749,485
Currently available power sources inhibit the DoD's ability to operate in austere environments due to power constraints, vulnerable logistics and fuel supply chains, or domain limitations in the area of operability. In order to increase the energy security of DoD operations - whether this is in space, on the ground, or undersea - there must be a long-endurance, low maintenance, resilient power source that has the flexibility to generate "plug-and-play" power across operational domains and environments. This is the future that we're building at Zeno. At Zeno, we are developing a next-generation radioisotope power system (RPS) that generates always-on, resilient power for years at a time. Historically, RPSs have been prohibitively expensive or heavy for broad commercialization. Our novel design results in a system that is affordable and lightweight. In this effort, we will adapt and enhance our RPS for Air Force defense use by increasing the power output and integrating a power distribution system based on Air Force / Space Force end-user feedback.