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NASA Running Low On Fuel For Space Exploration

Posted by timothy on from the let's-explore-earth-for-more dept.

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."

9 of 282 comments (clear)

  1. buy it from North Korea or Iran by stoolpigeon · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or if that wont work it looks like there is a decent chance we'll be able to buy some from the Taliban soon.

    --
    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?
    1. Re:buy it from North Korea or Iran by snl2587 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Nah, we'll just invade a few years later searching for weapons of mass destruction. Then, after a few short weeks, the dictator will be gone, we'll have our plutonium, and (as a side benefit) the North Korean people will love us! Foolproof plan.

  2. In unrelated news... by turthalion · · Score: 5, Funny

    In news unrelated to their shortage of plutonium, NASA is also looking for a buyer for a shiny bomb casing full of used pinball machine parts...

    --
    Michael Coyne
    http://turthalion.blogspot.com
  3. This wouldn't be a problem if... by JoshuaZ · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We allowed breeder reactors or nuclear reprocessing at civilian reactors.

    1. Re:This wouldn't be a problem if... by JoshuaZ · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Most civilian reactors aren't breeder reactors because of the danger of nuclear proliferation. They still produce tiny amounts of plutonium 238, but not in large quantities. Similarly, there isn't much in the way of nuclear reprocessing. The countries which are the exceptions have generally been countries that want to have lots of nukes. The French don't have that much that would help out. At this point, India or China might though.

  4. Research. by Dyinobal · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Necessity is the mother of all invention. Lets take this opportunity to find a new method of powering probes for such long distance missions.

  5. Re:Beam energy? by stoolpigeon · · Score: 5, Funny

    You're right. About the first part.

    --
    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?
  6. In your face, Edwin Starr! by Guido+del+Confuso · · Score: 5, Funny

    War! Huh! What is it good for?

    Space exploration, apparently.

  7. Not all plutonium is the same by tylersoze · · Score: 5, Informative

    To all the smart alecks, no they can't use weapons grade plutonium, which is 239, they need 238, which has a much shorter half-life (88 y compared to 24100 y) and therefore gives off much more energy. They don't need an isoptope that is fissile, they need one with a short half-life.