Atomic Space Batteries Explained

During the latest episode of This Week In Space, Dr. Robert O’Brien, director of the Center for Space Nuclear Research at USRA, discussed how spacecraft use radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) for power.

Power sources are a major challenge for space missions, especially in the outer solar system where sunlight is weak. Solar panels become less efficient far from the Sun, making nuclear options essential. RTGs, which have powered missions from Apollo experiments to Viking landers, Galileo, Cassini, and the Voyagers, convert heat generated by radioactive materials into electricity over decades.

Dr. O’Brien, who has decades of expertise in RTGs, provided insight into these atomic batteries. They rely on elements like plutonium and americium, offering consistent power for long-term space exploration.

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