Radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG)
Generador termoeléctrico de radioisótopos (RTG)
- Date
- 1961 · confidence high
- Place
- Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Credited to
- Martin Company and the US Atomic Energy Commission
- Field
- Matter & energy
What it is
A device that turns the heat from an isotope's decay into electricity, with no moving parts. The plutonium-238 SNAP-3B flew on the Transit 4A satellite in 1961 and opened up missions without enough sunlight.
The SNAP-3 demonstration dates from 1959. The plutonium-238 fuel was produced at AEC facilities and Mound Laboratory (Ohio); the place given is that of the manufacturer.
What it led to
- power for outer-solar-system probes (Pioneer, Voyager, Cassini, New Horizons)
- scientific instruments on the lunar (ALSEP) and Martian surface
- rovers such as Curiosity and Perseverance