Tuesday, December 2, 2014

We Are Running Out of the Nuclear Fuel That Powers Space Travel

We Are Running Out of the Nuclear Fuel That Powers Space Travel


Rosetta's lander lasted just 60 hours on a comet before bouncing into the dark shadows of a cliff, where its solar panels couldn't power the spacecraft. Why didn't it carry a more reliable power source, say a nuclear battery like one that's unfailingly fueled Voyager for decades? It's a simple question with a fascinating answer, one that begins with the Cold War and ends with the future space exploration.


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