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Astral Systems, a Bristol-based deep tech startup, has raised £4.5m in a round led by Speedinvest and Playfair, with participation from angel investors including Oliver Buck and Pete Hutton. The company is developing compact fusion reactors using multistate fusion (MSF) technology to increase the supply of nuclear isotopes used in medical diagnostics, addressing shortages caused by aging traditional reactors.
Astral’s reactors, small enough to fit on a desk, leverage lattice confinement fusion (LCF), a NASA-discovered process that enables dramatically higher fuel densities. The startup has already established three commercial fusion facilities generating revenue and aims to decentralize isotope production by placing reactors in hospitals and industrial sites. The funding will help Astral expand production and explore applications in hybrid nuclear energy, space exploration, and industrial security.
