Latvian startup Deep Space Energy, which makes radioisotope generators for space missions, has closed its pre-seed round, raising €350,000 led by Outlast Fund and angel investor Linas Sargautis, as Vestbee was informed.
- Established in 2022 by Dr. Mihails Ščepanskis, Prof. Jānis Priede, and Raimonds Nikoluškins, Deep Space Energy is a Latvian-British company developing radioisotope power systems (RPS) for space applications. The firm designs generators that convert the heat produced by radioactive decay into electricity, using materials such as Americium-241, Plutonium-238, and Strontium-90.
- The core technology, called the Radioisotope Thermo-Acoustic Linear Induction Generator (RTALIG), achieves approximately 25% efficiency, allowing it to produce the same power as traditional radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) while using roughly five times less fuel. The system operates with a single moving piston, reducing mechanical wear and increasing reliability for long-duration missions.
- Deep Space Energy’s modules are compact, producing 50 watts each, and can be stacked for higher outputs. They are designed to operate in environments where solar power is ineffective, such as the lunar night, permanently shadowed craters, multi-year Martian dust storms, and deep-space missions. The company also provides hybrid nuclear-solar systems for satellites to maintain power during eclipses or line-of-sight interruptions.
- The company sources fuel through European suppliers and maintains regulatory compliance by retaining ownership of the radioisotope heat source under a “power-as-a-service” framework. Deep Space Energy is conducting multiple development contracts with the European Space Agency (ESA), focusing on converter validation, advanced Sr-90 fuels, and hybrid system studies.
Details of the deal
- Private investors, including Outlast Fund and angel investor Linas Sargautis, contributed €350,000, while public funding from the European Space Agency (ESA), NATO DIANA, and the Latvian government added €580,000.
"Deep Space Energy is building the infrastructure that will literally power the next chapter of space exploration and industry. As Europe ramps up its space ambitions, we need our own companies to lead in these foundational technologies. We’re thrilled to back this team and honestly pretty excited to have an actual moonshot in our portfolio, in the most literal sense possible,” explains Egita Poļanska, Partner at Outlast Fund.
- The investment will be used to develop Deep Space Energy’s radioisotope power generator, focusing on providing backup power for satellites and enabling lunar rovers to operate through long nights and shadowed regions. The funding will support research, prototyping, and preparation for future commercial and space applications.
