Washington, D.C., August 14, 2025 – Zeno Power, the company building nuclear batteries to power missions on the frontier, today announced that A.C. Charania has joined the team as Senior Vice President of Space Business Development.

Charania brings over 25 years of experience advancing aerospace innovation across public and private sectors. Most recently as NASA’s Chief Technologist, Charania served as the agency’s top advisor to the NASA Administrator on technology strategy – helping shape investment priorities, guide innovation across six mission directorates, and align programs with long-term mission goals.

At Zeno, Charania will drive the company's growth in the space sector, leading efforts to expand its work with NASA, the Department of Defense, and commercial partners. He will also be responsible for developing strategic partnerships that position Zeno’s technology within critical space missions and programs. Zeno currently holds over $60 million in active government contracts and is preparing to conduct full-scale demonstrations of its nuclear battery technology in 2026.

"A.C. is a powerhouse addition to the Zeno team. He brings unmatched experience at the intersection of space technology, policy, and strategy – and a proven ability to forge the partnerships that move missions forward,” said Tyler Bernstein, Co-Founder and CEO of Zeno Power. “As we prepare for major milestones next year, A.C. will be instrumental in expanding our presence across the space ecosystem and securing opportunities for our nuclear batteries to enable missions on orbit, on the Moon, Mars, and beyond."

Charania’s career spans senior roles at NASA, Reliable Robotics, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and SpaceWorks Enterprises, with a focus on maturing technologies, building programs, and creating the commercial pathways needed to bring space innovation to market. He has also played an active role in national space policy and programs including advocacy for lunar programs (NASA CLPS to HLS) and technical collaborations between various United States space agencies.

“Power is one of the biggest limiting factors in the second Space Age, and Zeno Power is uniquely qualified to solve a decades-old challenge in the space industry with our commercially available, scalable radioisotope power systems," said Charania. "I am tremendously excited to be a part of this team and to help Zeno accelerate and expand its work powering the current and next-generation of space missions."

Zeno’s nuclear batteries, also known as radioisotope power systems (RPS), convert heat from the natural decay of radioisotopes like americium-241 and strontium-90 into thermal and electric power. While NASA has long used plutonium-238 in RPSs for missions like Voyager, Curiosity, and Perseverance, Zeno is bringing nuclear battery technology to the commercial market, building scalable systems that use more readily available isotopes. Designed for the modern space era, Zeno's nuclear batteries enable long-duration missions through the lunar night, in permanently shadowed regions, and across deep space.

With Charania's leadership, Zeno is poised to accelerate market expansion and establish nuclear power as a foundational capability for commercial, civil, and national security space missions.

About Zeno Power
Zeno Power is the leading developer of nuclear batteries – compact power systems that provide reliable, clean energy in frontier environments. By harnessing the heat from radioisotopes, Zeno’s batteries power critical missions on Earth, in space, and at sea. Zeno has secured more than $60 million in U.S. government contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense. The company has successfully demonstrated a scaled nuclear prototype, secured its initial nuclear supply chain, and is on track to deliver its first systems in 2027. Zeno recently closed its $50 million Series B round, and is backed by leading venture capital firms. Founded in 2018, Zeno has 65+ team members between its offices in Washington, D.C. and Seattle, WA. To learn more, visit: www.zenopower.com.

Media Contact
‍Kelsey Bates
Communications Manager
kbates@zenopower.com

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