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RTGs don't have to be heavy and big. Sure one to power a car sized rover like Curiosity with large motors, science equipment, lasers, etc will be big. But one
by tdicola 11y ago
RTGs don't have to be heavy and big. Sure one to power a car sized rover like Curiosity with large motors, science equipment, lasers, etc will be big. But one to power a little probe with 24 watts would be tiny. In the 70s there were actually nuclear powered pace makers implanted inside people, so the technology can definitely scale down: https://www.orau.org/ptp/collection/Miscellaneous/pacemaker.htm https://www.orau.org/ptp/collection/Miscellaneous/pacemaker....
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]
- arrrg 11y agoSo why doesn’t Nasa use them all the time?
- AnkhMorporkian 11y agoTwo reasons. One, in a lot of situations solar power is essentially guaranteed, and when there's no chance that there won't be sun solar panels are a hell of a lot cheaper. Second, there's a plutonium shortage in the US at the moment [1] making it really hard to secure an RTG. [1] http://www.wired.com/2013/09/plutonium-238-problem/ http://www.wired.com/2013/09/plutonium-238-problem/