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NASA's Plutonium Supply Dwindling; ESA To Help

Posted by timothy on from the fire-up-x10-and-k25-again dept.

astroengine writes "NASA's stockpile of the plutonium isotope Pu-238 is at a critical level, causing concern that there won't be enough fuel for future deep space missions. Pellets of Pu-238 are used inside radioisotope thermoelectric generators (or RTGs) to generate electricity for space probes traveling beyond the orbit of Mars — solar energy is too weak for solar arrays at these distances. Blocked by a contract dispute with Russia to supply Pu-238 and the US Department of Energy that has not been granted funds to produce more of the isotope, NASA lacks enough of the radioisotope to fuel the future joint NASA-ESA mission to Europa. However, the head of the European Space Agency has announced that they have plans to commence a new nuclear energy program to alleviate the situation."

11 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. Solution Right Here by Saeed+al-Sahaf · · Score: 3, Funny

    I have a chili recipe that produces a - er - "slurry" so radioactively hot, it could be used to power spacecraft...

    --
    "Who are in control, they are not in control of anything - they don't even control themselves!" - Glen Beck
    1. Re:Solution Right Here by PPH · · Score: 4, Funny

      You wouldn't by any chance have fed any of this chili to a black hole?

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
  2. Solution to the problem is simple... by OSDever · · Score: 5, Funny

    They just need to construct additional pylons. Problem solved.

    --
    What is the airspeed of a fully laden swallow?
  3. Re:Missed Opportunity? by bsDaemon · · Score: 2, Funny

    NASA is just holding out until they can buy what they need from Iran.

  4. Civ IV by Aeonite · · Score: 4, Funny

    Cultural Victory? Nope.
    Diplomatic Victory? Nope.
    Space Race Victory? Nope.

    That leaves Domination Victory and Conquest Victory.

    Decisions, decisions.

  5. Re:Recycle Nukes? by JustOK · · Score: 1, Funny

    Isn't there Pu around Uranus?

    --
    rewriting history since 2109
  6. GREAT SCOTT!!! by Reed+Solomon · · Score: 2, Funny

    We've got 5 more years, someone at NASA better be working on Mister Fusion. And hovercars.

    1. Re:GREAT SCOTT!!! by nebaz · · Score: 2, Funny

      What happened? I remember in 1985, Plutonium was available in every corner drug store, but in 2010, it's a little hard to come by.

      --
      Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds.There upon the rainbow is the answer to a neverending story
  7. Re:Maybe the Muslims will help us out... by Panaflex · · Score: 3, Funny

    Don't care if it's off-topic, great reply man! Far too often we, as Americans, take our issues with policy and political leadership and smear it across whole swaths of culture and people. I take extreme issue with those that would cause others undue harm, especially terrorist and despot regimes, but for God's sake I don't hold their people/citizens entirely responsible unless they personally participate and prove that they deserve it.

     

    --
    I said no... but I missed and it came out yes.
  8. Re:Recycle Nukes? by camperdave · · Score: 2, Funny

    But for some reason they don't mind turning on the lights in their home with electricity provided by coal fired generators that put more radioactive particulates in the air than any nuclear plant could.

    Hippiecrits.

    Brilliant!

    --
    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  9. Critical level by Arancaytar · · Score: 5, Funny

    NASA's stockpile of the plutonium isotope Pu-238 is at a critical level

    They've got a critical amount of Pu-238 and they want more?