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Question of the Week / Re: QotW - 24.12.12 - Is there any way to harness nuclear energy other than steam?
« on: 11/12/2024 01:38:21 »Quote from: Petrochemicals
Pioneer (Thermoelectric)... why it is still going strong?The Voyager 1 & 2 spacecraft had 3 Thermoelectric generators each, powered by Plutonium-238 (half-life 88 years).
Each generator:
- Produces 2400W of heat (halving every 88 years)
- Generates 157W of electricity (halving every 88 years)
- It was launched in 1977, so it hasn't reached its half-life yet
- but NASA has had to power down some instruments in order to keep others operating at full power.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MHW-RTG
The more modern device on the Mars Curiosity rover supplies both:
- electricity (to power the electronics)
- and heat (to keep the electronics warm during the cold Martian night).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-mission_radioisotope_thermoelectric_generator