How Plutonium got us to Pluto | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The New Horizons space probe carries a significant amount of plutonium to generate electricity and power its instruments during its long-distance mission to Pluto.

Key Insights

• 👾 Plutonium-238 is used for its radioactive decay properties in the New Horizons space probe to generate thermal energy, ultimately converted to electrical energy through thermocouples.
• ✊ Plutonium-238 is not the same isotope used in nuclear weapons, but it still decays over time, reducing power availability for the mission.
• 😎 Plutonium-based power sources are crucial for missions in areas with limited sunlight, such as those far away from the sun like Pluto.
• 👾 The New Horizons space probe carries a substantial amount of plutonium (10.9 kilos) to power all its instruments and equipment throughout its mission.
• ❓ Plutonium-238 is made synthetically from uranium, and its production is complex and costly.
• 🇲🇭 While there is some plutonium-238 available for future Mars Rovers, there is a shortage of the material overall.
• 🥺 The name of plutonium is not expected to be changed despite the demotion of Pluto as a planet, as it is not the element's fault and renaming it would lead to arguments about a replacement name.

Transcript

it's an exciting time the New Horizon space probe is flying past Pluto and the astronomers are wild with excitement new Canyons all sorts of things on Pluto but I'm excited for a different reason because New Horizons is carrying plutonium so the element plutonium is going to the planet Pluto how much better can you get than that the three elements ... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the New Horizons space probe generate electricity for its mission?

The probe utilizes plutonium-238, which undergoes radioactive decay, releasing thermal energy that is converted into electricity through thermocouples.

Q: Is the plutonium used in the space probe the same as that used in nuclear weapons?

No, the isotope of plutonium used in the space probe is plutonium-238, which decays without requiring a chain reaction. It is different from the isotope used in nuclear weapons.

Q: How does the New Horizons power source compare to solar panels used in other spacecraft?

Solar panels are not efficient enough in the distant regions like Pluto, where sunlight is insufficient. Plutonium-based power sources offer a more weight-effective solution in such situations.

Q: Is there a shortage of plutonium-238 for future space missions?

Yes, there is a shortage as the production of plutonium-238 is expensive and no longer economically viable. The US Space Program has previously bought plutonium-238 from Russia, but even those stocks are running out.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The New Horizons space probe is powered by plutonium to generate the energy needed for its instruments and systems throughout its journey to Pluto.

• Plutonium-238 is used for its radioactive decay, producing thermal energy that is converted into electricity using thermocouples.

• The 10.9 kilos of plutonium on the spacecraft produce around 280 Watts, sufficient to power all the instruments and equipment.