International Thermoelectric Society

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NASA Goes Nuclear (2004) (US)

Published in the November 2004 issue of Popular Mechanics.

For the first time in four decades, NASA has firm plans to launch a nuclear reactor. To put its Prometheus plan into action, the space agency, along with the Department of Energy (DOE), has devised a spacecraft and proposed a mission.

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Galileo RTG Photo (USA)

One of Galileo's two RTGs undergoes some of the myriad tests for safety and operations.

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Nuclear Power in Space (Kulcinski/USA)

The need for electrical energy in Space is obvious. Currently, levels of 100-500 watts are needed for small satellites while human presence will require 10's of kWe and Lunar (or Mars) bases will require 1-2 MWe.

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Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs)

The Galileo mission will be the 24th U.S. space mission since 1961 to be powered partially or totally by nuclearpower sources.

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