Perpetual Atomics and QSA Global Achieve Breakthrough in Americium Ceramic Fuel Pelleting for Space Power Systems

LEICESTER, England & BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 1, 2025--

Perpetual Atomics Ltd, based in the UK, and QSA Global, Inc., based in the USA, have solved a key challenge in space nuclear power: turning americium dioxide into stable, large-scale pellets via an industrially scalable process suitable for direct use in the production of sealed sources for radioisotope power systems.

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Through this collaboration, Perpetual Atomics – a spin-out from the University of Leicester, based at Space Park Leicester, the University’s £100 million science and innovation park – and QSA Global have achieved a major step forward in processing americium into sealed sources for radioisotope power systems, including radioisotope heater units (RHUs) and radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs).

Using a new process not previously applied to americium, the team have produced the largest reported ceramic americium pellet of this type. Developed via an industrially scalable method for producing robust americium pellets, these can be directly integrated into sealed power-systems. This development helps unlock reliable, long-duration power for future space missions.

The production of stable americium pellets in the dimensions required for 3-watt thermal RHUs is the result of a rapid and focused development effort. The process is scalable and amenable to industrialization, producing high-density pellets with high volumetric power density—critical to maximizing specific power in radioisotope power systems. The new approach is rapid, minimizes pellet volume and waste, and maximizes throughput, enabling the production of larger-scale pellets tailored to the needs of future power systems. A ceramic fuel form is an important requirement for space applications. This milestone has been achieved in just one year since the Perpetual Atomics–QSA Global collaboration began, underscoring the speed and effectiveness of the joint development effort.

This advance is a great example of transatlantic collaboration and accelerates the availability of sustainable, reliable power solutions for some of the most challenging environments in space.

Perpetual Atomics builds on over 20 years of expertise in space nuclear power systems, space science, and space exploration. Working across the full vertical—from fuel to heat sources and power systems—Perpetual Atomics provides innovative solutions to space mission power challenges, supporting mission “survive the night” capability and operation in the most demanding environments.

QSA Global, with decades of experience designing and producing commercial radioisotope sealed sources for industrial use in the harshest terrestrial environments, is a natural partner for this development. The company’s infrastructure, quality systems, and proven track record make it an ideal collaborator as Perpetual Atomics expands its portfolio and international footprint.

Building on Perpetual Atomics’ 2024 launch, this development further underscores the company’s commitment to integrating technology, strategic partnerships, and innovation at the core of its operations, with a focus on delivering deployable, real-world solutions.

Dr. Ramy Mesalam, Chief Technical Officer of Perpetual Atomics, commented: “We are very excited about this development as it underscores the importance of the fundamental science and engineering required to develop new technologies, as well as the empirical nature of the challenge. Developing the fuel form and a stable processing method was the primary challenge and this was successfully addressed first with surrogates and then translated to americium in collaboration with the QSA team in record time.”

Dr. Joe Lapinskas, Director of Innovation and Marketing at QSA Global, said: “At QSA Global, we’re proud to have played a hands-on role in this breakthrough — from helping to develop the americium fuel form and the underlying manufacturing techniques to actually producing the first pellets themselves. In just one year of working together, Perpetual Atomics and QSA Global have gone from concept to manufacturable fuel pellets. By combining Perpetual Atomics’ space nuclear power expertise with QSA Global’s decades of sealed source design, qualification, and high-reliability manufacturing, we’re turning a promising concept into real hardware ready to power the next generation of demanding space missions.”

Professor Richard Ambrosi, Chief Scientific Officer and founding director of Perpetual Atomics, said: “This collaboration and the capabilities of the teams in Leicester and at QSA Global are unique. The speed of this development and its historic implications are significant. It is a testament to the world-leading capability, know-how, and focus that have enabled this success. The multi-decadal expertise in space nuclear power systems within Perpetual Atomics, covering the whole vertical, is enabling this acceleration towards deployable products and systems.”

Matthew Cook, Head of Space Exploration at the UK Space Agency, said: “This is an exciting breakthrough that demonstrates the UK’s growing leadership in space nuclear power systems. The work by Perpetual Atomics and QSA Global, shows how international collaboration can accelerate innovation and turn ambitious concepts into deployable technology at remarkable speed.

“Radioisotope power systems will be essential for future deep space missions and exploring extreme environments like the Lunar South Pole. By developing scalable americium fuel pelleting processes here in the UK, we’re ensuring British expertise remains at the forefront of this critical technology.”

William Wells, Chief Executive Officer of Space Park Leicester, said: “We’re so proud to have provided a collaborative environment for Perpetual Atomics to enable it to continue to go from strength to strength.

“This is a fantastic example of how Space Park Leicester acts as a hub for space innovation and industry-academia collaboration.”

Perpetual Atomics. QSA Global & University of Leicester at Space Park Leicester.

RHUs arranged in a spacecraft structure cutaway.

Ceramic americium pellet for radioisotope heater unit (RHU).

NEW YORK (AP) — Kamala Harris “wrote off rural America" during the 2024 presidential campaign and failed to attack Donald Trump with sufficient “negative firepower," according to a long-awaited post-election autopsy released on Thursday by the Democratic National Committee.

The committee's chair, Ken Martin, shared the 192-page report only after facing intense internal pressure from frustrated Democratic operatives concerned with his leadership. Martin had originally promised to release the autopsy, only to keep it under wraps for months because he was concerned it would be a distraction ahead of the midterms as Democrats mobilize to take back control of Congress.

On Tuesday, Martin apologized for his handling of the situation and conceded that the report was withheld because it “was not ready for primetime."

Although the autopsy criticizes Democrats' focus on “identity politics,” it sidesteps some of the most controversial elements of the 2024 campaign. The report does not address former President Joe Biden’s decision to seek reelection, the rushed selection of Harris to replace him on the ticket or the party's acrimonious divide over the war in Gaza.

“I am not proud of this product; it does not meet my standards, and it won’t meet your standards,” Martin wrote in an essay on Substack on Thursday. “I don’t endorse what’s in this report, or what’s left out of it. I could not in good faith put the DNC’s stamp of approval on it. But transparency is paramount.”

A spokesperson for Harris did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The initial reaction from Democratic operatives was a mix of bafflement and anger over Martin's handling of the situation.

“Why not say this in 2024, or bring in more people to finish it, instead of turning this into the dumbest media cycle for 7-8 months?” Democratic strategist Steve Schale wrote on social media.

The postelection report, which was authored by Democratic consultant Paul Rivera, calls for “a renewed focus on the voters of Middle America and the South, who have come to believe they are not included in the Democratic vision of a stronger and more dynamic America for everyone.”

“Millions of Americans are suffering from poor access to healthcare, manufacturing and job losses, and a failing infrastructure, yet continue to be persuaded to vote against their best interests because they do not see themselves reflected in the America of the Democratic Party,” the report says.

The autopsy points to a reduction in support and training for Democratic state parties, voter registration shifts and “a persistent inability or unwillingness to listen to all voters.”

Thursday's release comes as Martin confronts a crisis of confidence among party officials who are increasingly concerned about the health of their political machine barely a year into his term. Some Democratic operatives have had informal discussions about recruiting a new chair, even though most believe that Martin’s job wasn't in serious jeopardy ahead of the midterm elections.

The report found that Harris and her allies failed to focus enough on Trump's negatives, especially his felony convictions. This was part of a broader criticism that Democrats' messaging is too focused on reason and winning arguments, “even in cycles when the electorate is defined by rage.”

“There was a decision in the 2024 Democratic leadership not to engage in negative advertising at the scale required,” the report states. “The Trump campaign and supportive Super PACs went full throttle against Vice President Harris, but there was not sufficient or similar negative firepower directed at Trump by Democrats.”

The report continues: “It was essential to prosecute a more effective case as to why Trump should have been disqualified from ever again taking office. The grounds were there, but the messaging did not make the case.”

Trump's attack on Harris' transgender policies were cited as a key contrast.

Specifically, the report suggested the Democratic nominee was “boxed” in by the Trump campaign's “very effective” ad that highlighted Harris' previous statement of support for taxpayer-funded gender-affirming surgeries for prison inmates.

Democratic pollsters believed that “if the Vice President would not change her position – and she did not – then there was nothing which would have worked as a response," the report said.

The report criticized Harris' outreach to key segments of America while condemning the party's focus on “identity politics.”

“Harris wrote off rural America, assuming urban/suburban margins would compensate. The math doesn’t work,” the report says. “You can’t lose rural areas by overwhelming margins and make it up elsewhere when rural voters are a significant share of the electorate. If Democrats are to reclaim leadership in the Heartland or the South, candidates must perform well in rural turf. Show up, listen, and then do it again.”

The report also references Democrats' underperformance with male voters of color.

“Male voters require direct engagement. The gender gap can be narrowed. Deploy male messengers, address economic concerns, and don’t assume identity politics will hold male voters of color,” it says.

President Donald Trump speaks during an event about loosening a federal refrigerant rule, in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Former Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a fireside chat on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)

FILE - Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at DNC headquarters, Jan. 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert, File)