MHW-RTG

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The Multihundred-Watt radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MHW RTG) is a type of US radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) developed for the Voyager spacecraft, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2.[1]

Radioisotope thermoelectric generators for the Voyager program.

Each RTG has a total weight of 37.7 kg including about 4.5 kg of Pu-238[2] and uses 24 pressed plutonium-238 oxide spheres to provide enough heat to generate approximately 157 Watts of electrical power initially – halving every 87.7 years.[3]

Each RTG initially generated about 2400 Watts of thermal power.[4] Conversion of the decay heat of the plutonium to electrical power uses 312

silicon-germanium
(SiGe)
thermoelectric couples. The initial thermoelectric couple hot junction temperature was 1273 K (1000 °C, 1832 °F) with a cold junction temperature of 573 K (300 °C, 572 °F).[5]

Each Voyager spacecraft has 3 RTGs. Collectively, the RTGs supply each Voyager spacecraft with 470 Watts at launch.[6][7]

MHW-RTGs were used on the Lincoln Experimental Satellites 8 and 9.

Subsequent US spacecraft used the GPHS-RTG which used similar SiGe thermoelectric devices but a different packaging of the fuel.

The

Curiosity rover
.

  • RTG heat source unit
    RTG heat source unit
  • RTG diagram 1
    RTG diagram 1
  • RTG unit
    RTG unit

References

  1. doi:10.1243/PIME_PROC_1980_194_026_02. Archived from the original
    on 2014-03-31.
  2. ^ "Space Nuclear Power" G.L.Bennett 2006
  3. ^ "NASA Celebrates 45 Years of Voyager 1, Enabled by Radioisotope Power". NASA. September 5, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  4. ^ "Totse.com | Nuclear Power in Space". Archived from the original on 2008-06-19. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  5. ^ Furlong, Richard R.; Wahlquist, Earl J. (1999). "U.S. space missions using radioisotope power systems" (PDF). Nuclear News. 42 (4): 26–34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-10-16. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  6. ^ "VOYAGER 2:Host Information". NASA. 1989. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  7. ^ "Voyager 2 Craft Details". NASA-NSSDC-Spacecraft-Details. NASA. Retrieved March 9, 2011.

See also

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