NASA's future space exploration bolstered by major plutonium-238 delivery

Reuters Events SMR and Advanced Reactor 2025

NASA's future space exploration bolstered by major plutonium-238 delivery
by Brad Bartz
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 24, 2023

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) recent achievement in shipping a substantial amount of heat source plutonium-238 to the Los Alamos National Laboratory signifies a pivotal advancement for NASA's future space missions. This latest shipment, consisting of 0.5 kilograms (a little over 1 pound) of new heat source plutonium oxide, is noteworthy as the largest since the domestic restart of plutonium-238 production over ten years ago.

This significant milestone aligns with the objective of reaching a constant production rate average of 1.5 kilograms per year by 2026. Such an increase in plutonium-238 availability is crucial for fueling planned NASA missions utilizing radioisotope power systems (RPS). These systems are essential for the exploration of the solar system's most remote and dark regions, as well as journeys beyond our solar system.

Radioisotope power systems leverage the natural decay of plutonium-238, providing spacecraft with a steady source of heat and electricity. This is achieved through devices like the Light Weight Radioisotope Heater Unit (LWRHU) or the Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG). The DOE's role in producing heat source plutonium oxide has been instrumental for missions such as NASA's Mars 2020, where the Perseverance rover, equipped with an MMRTG, benefits from the new plutonium production. The MMRTG ensures a continuous supply of about 110 watts of electricity and necessary heat, enabling the rover to explore the Martian surface and collect soil samples.

Carl Sandifer, the RPS program manager at NASA's Glenn Research Center, emphasizes the importance of this partnership between NASA and the DOE. He stated, "NASA's Radioisotope Power Systems Program works in partnership with the Department of Energy to enable missions to operate in some of the most extreme environments in our solar system and interstellar space."

For over six decades, the United States has utilized radioisotope-based electrical power systems and heater units in space exploration. These RPS have powered three dozen missions, providing reliable electricity and heat for extended space exploration endeavors.

The ongoing collaboration between NASA and the DOE underscores their commitment to ensuring the nation's capability to undertake future missions that rely on radioisotopes. This collaboration is pivotal in maintaining the United States' position at the forefront of space exploration and research.

As NASA and the DOE continue this long-standing partnership, they reinforce the nation's ability to venture into new frontiers in space for decades to come, backed by the critical support of advanced radioisotope power systems.