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NASA Running Low On Fuel For Space Exploration
smooth wombat writes "With the end of the Cold War came warmer relations with old adversaries, increased trade and a world less worried about nuclear war. It also brought with it an unexpected downside: lack of nuclear fuel to power deep space probes. Without this fuel, probes beyond Jupiter won't work because there isn't enough sunlight to use solar panels, which probes closer to the sun use. The fuel NASA relies on to power deep space probes is plutonium-238. This isotope is the result of nuclear weaponry, and since the United States has not made a nuclear device in 20 years, the supply has run out. For now, NASA is using Soviet supplies, but they too are almost exhausted. It is estimated it will cost at least $150 million to resume making the 11 pounds per year that is needed for space probes."
We allowed breeder reactors or nuclear reprocessing at civilian reactors.
Just bring Uranus closer to the sun.
Table-ized A.I.
The US still has plenty of nuclear warheads that could be retired and their plutonium used for this purpose, unless for some reason the fuel has degraded.
President Obama has suggested additional reductions in nuclear arms held by the US and Russia, so perhaps the plutonium from those could be used.
Or perhaps NASA could adapt their generators to use plutonium 239, which they could get from a Fast Breeder reactor, if we ever build one.
I kind of see your point, but given the lack of funding that NASA is generally dealing with these days, I'd imagine they'd probably rather spend their research dollars solving newer problems, rather than having to find another solution to something that was basically solved. It was a good solution too. RTG's are reasonably simple as far as nuclear technology goes, they're durable, and they last a long time.
Also, there's plenty of earth-bound activities which would benefit from a power source of similar capabilities, so there's long been incentives beyond space-flight which could help convince people to develop alternative power sources. There might not be a good answer out there.
One time I threw a brick at a duck.
Except that they don't actually travel in a straight line away from the sun. They use the slingshot effect to travel a couple orbits around the sun and build up lots of speed. It would probably be very hard to aim the laser the correctly on a moving target millions of miles away.
Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
Why not fund our own nuclear power plants programs? Build more plants. Build the breeder reactors (and the newer reprocessing tech)...and along the lines, maybe a little of the 238 stuff can come off the line for NASA?
First, we need to repeal the Carter ban on such nuclear reprocessing...and then, start building nuke power plants.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
Uhh.. No your wrong.
Really RTGs are actually simple, cheap, and effective. Solar will not work well past the orbit of Mars, Reactors are more expensive, complex, and weigh more.
So sparky you tell me what can produce power for years without much light, heat, or air, and has a mass of less then 60 kgs?
Oh and "I am sure they can think of something" is not an answer.
See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
> That's because those isotopes were created the last time the sun went nova...
Speak for yourself. Our sun has never gone nova.
Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
I haven't been there - and I've only talked with a couple people that have been close, on the China side, but I've got the feeling that for many of the people getting fed on a regular basis is high enough a priority that they wont care where it comes from or who is in charge.
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
I'm pretty sure they can tell they're being lied to, that their lives are not how they should be, and something is fundamentally wrong with their current society. While there are certainly a number of party members who do well as it stands right now, I'm pretty sure even they know it's all a lie- hell, they're more likely to be sure it's all bullsh*t.
While propaganda can be a very powerful tool, it is never sufficient to overturn most folk's perception of reality, when reality is diametrically opposed to the propaganda.
In the history of tyrannical upheavals, I have not once heard a report of "Holy fuck! You mean I was being lied to the entire time I was alive?"
This sort of personality cult authoritarianism requires all its participants to lie on an extremely routine basis, because their society and structure is so utterly at odds with nature, with proper society, with reality, and with people's hearts.
It's a degrading way to live and I guarantee you that every single half-sane person in North Korea knows it.
Beyond that, a proper transition is certainly important and would be tricky. But it won't be because everyone is surprised they've been fed baloney for decades.
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be the name of a store, not a government agency.
Given the amount of propaganda that people right here in the US go for hook line and sinker, it would seem shocking to find that a good portion of the North Korean people don't believe a good portion of what they are being told.
Holy freaking Hanna!
Okay lets take a look at what this "New energy source" has to do.
1. Supply several hundred watts for at least a decade without refueling. RTGs from the 70s are still working and the probes that use them still sending data.
2. Work in a vacuum.
3. Work in the Dark.
4. Work in the extreme cold of the outer solar system.
5. Be light An RTG has a mass of under 60 kg.
6. Dependable. Must work for decades with nobody to fix it.
Just what the heck do you think can do that that isn't an RTG?
We don't have working fusion so we are left with reactors but they are not as light or as simple as RTGs.
More mass means a bigger launch vehicle. That means a lot more money and fewer missions.
I love the way people on Slashdot are so willing to make comments like "They just need to find a replacment". Doesn't anybody ever consider that fact that this is the best solution there is without some massive technical leap? And that technical leap may be many decades away if it ever comes!
See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
I expected a cheap shot like this, so here's my answer:
The 'Propaganda' you refer to is generally about far-away places and events, and therefor any contrast with reality would not be apparent.
These people are being fed bullshit about the workings of their daily lives, and are required to participate in the lies or be hauled off to the gulag. There is a big difference between 'stoopid americans falling for propaganda about WMD/Iraq Lollerskates!!11Lol!' and Koreans believing or not believing the nonsense they're told, or participate in, each day, about matters that directly affect every waking moment.
Clear enough?
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be the name of a store, not a government agency.