{"id":27051,"date":"2023-05-10T21:39:16","date_gmt":"2023-05-10T21:39:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rpmanetworks.com\/AtomkraftCloneSite\/?post_type=docs&p=25605"},"modified":"2023-05-10T21:39:16","modified_gmt":"2023-05-10T21:39:16","password":"","slug":"what-is-nuclear-space-technology","status":"publish","type":"docs","link":"https:\/\/rpmanetworks.com\/atomkraftclonesite-english\/docs\/what-is-nuclear-space-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"What is nuclear space technology?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Dr. Nick Touran, Ph.D., P.E., Reading time: 1 minute<\/u><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nuclear energy is a wonderful energy source for space. As you go away from the sun, solar panels struggle to gather enough energy to run a spacecraft or probe, and chemical rocket fuel tanks would just be too big. Many famous missions depended on nuclear energy (Cassini, Mars Rover, Voyager, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Nuclear isotopes in space<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Solar<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cassini, rovers, etc. have been powered by something called a radioisotopic thermal generator (RTG). These devices use radioactive isotopes produced in nuclear reactors on Earth (usually Plutonium-238) coupled to a device that can convert heat directly to electricity. RTGs are kind of like really long-lived batteries that can provide tens or hundreds of Watts for decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nuclear reactors in space<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nuclear reactors can be used in space to produce heat, electricity, and\/or propulsion. They could be used to power a Mars or Moon base or configured as a nuclear-powered rocket to get around out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November 2020, a company called Space Nuclear Power Corporation was spun out<\/a> of a Los Alamos National Lab effort to commercialize space-based nuclear reactors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Video<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s an excellent summary of nuclear technology in space from an astronuclear engineer named Chris Morrison:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n