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Why not use polonium? It's very rare but at least it's not as rare as an element that has to be actually be created. The Russians use polonium for the same pur
by dghughes 11y ago
Why not use polonium? It's very rare but at least it's not as rare as an element that has to be actually be created.
The Russians use polonium for the same purpose in their spacecraft as the US does using plutonium; heat to generate power suing thermoelectric generators.
- zaphoyd 11y agoPolonium 210 has a half life of 138 days vs 88 years for Plutonium 238. I believe Russia used it for short duration moon missions. For missions that last years or decades it is not an option.
- MrZongle2 11y agoOh, the Russians use polonium for a lot of things. cough https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poisoning_of_Alexander_Litvinenko https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poisoning_of_Alexander_Litvine...