Moon-Shot Power Play: DARPA’s New "Rads to Watts" Program Aims to Revolutionize Humanity’s Expansion Into Space

Moon-Shot Power Play: DARPA’s New "Rads to Watts" Program Aims to Revolutionize Humanity’s Expansion into Space

In a strong indication of the Pentagon’s growing ambitions for a lasting foothold beyond Earth, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently unveiled early plans for a groundbreaking technology program. The initiative aims to develop compact, long-duration nuclear power systems that could one day energize permanent off-world outposts or support long-range missions deep into space. The program, “Rads to Watts,” was recently outl…

When watching the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, it is impossible to ignore the important role that technology plays in them. In short, defense and security in the modern world no longer depend only on the number of tanks and ammunition. And this is exactly where start-ups come into play. Their defense technologies...