Nuclear-Powered
Spacecraft
Low-power nuclear generators called radioisotope thermoelectric generators,
or RTGs, are most advantageous for surface rovers or deep space missions, where
solar power can be impractical.
Earth-orbiting spacecraft, however, are more capable of operating with solar
power. Several popular missions operate entirely without the aid of nuclear
power, including the Hubble and Chandra telescopes and the International Space
Station.
|
POWER
SOURCE
|
SPACECRAFT
|
MISSION
TYPE
|
LAUNCH
DATE
|
STATUS
|
|
SNAP-3B7
|
Transit
4A
|
Navigational
|
6-29-61
|
RTG
operated for 15 years. Satellite now shut down but operational.
|
|
SNAP-3B8
|
Transit
4B
|
Navigational
|
11-15-61
|
RTG
operated for 9 years. Satellite operated periodically after 1962 high
altitude test. Last reported signal in 1971.
|
|
SNAP-9A
|
Transit
5-BN-1 |
Navigational
|
9-28-63
|
RTG
operated as planned. Non-RTG electrical problems on satellite caused satellite
to fall after 9 months.
|
|
SNAP-9A
|
Transit
5-BN-2
|
Navigational
|
12-5-63
|
RTG
operated for over 6 years. Satellite lost ability to navigate after 1.5
years.
|
|
SNAP-9A
|
Transit 5-BN-3
|
Navigational
|
4-21-64
|
Mission
was aborted because of launch vehicle failure. RTG burned up on re-entry
as designed.
|
|
SNAP
19B2
|
Nimbus-B-1
|
Meteorological
|
5-18-68
|
Mission
was aborted because of range safety destruct. RTG heat sources recovered
and recycled.
|
|
SNAP
19B3
|
Nimbus
III
|
Meteorological
|
4-14-69
|
RTGs
operated for over 2.5 years.
|
|
ALRH
|
Apollo
11
|
Lunar
Surface
|
7-14-69
|
Radioisotope
heater units for seismic experimental package. Station was shut down 8-3-69.
|
|
SNAP-27
|
Apollo
12
|
Lunar
Surface
|
11-14-69
|
RTG
operated for about 8 years until station was shut down.
|
|
SNAP-27
|
Apollo
13
|
Lunar
Surface
|
4-11-70
|
Mission aborted on the way to the moon. RTG re-entered earth's atmosphere
and landed in South Pacific Ocean. No radiation was released.
|
| SNAP-27 |
Apollo 14 |
Lunar Surface |
1-31-71 |
RTG
operated for over 6.5 years until station was shut down. |
|
SNAP-27
|
Apollo 15
|
Lunar Surface
|
7-26-71 |
RTG
operated for over 6 years until station was shut down.
|
|
SNAP-19
|
Pioneer
10
|
Planetary
|
3-2-72
|
RTGs
still operating. Spacecraft successfully operated to Jupiter and is now
beyond orbit of Pluto.
|
|
SNAP-27
|
Apollo
16
|
Lunar Surface
|
4-16-72
|
RTG operated for about 5.5 years until station was shut down.
|
|
Transit-RTG
|
"Transit"
(Triad-01-1x)
|
Navigational
|
9-2-72
|
RTG
still operating.
|
|
SNAP-27
|
Apollo 17
|
Lunar
Surface
|
12-7-72
|
RTG
operated for almost 5 years until station was shut down.
|
|
SNAP-19
|
Pioneer 11
|
Planetary
|
4-5-73
|
RTGs
still operating. Spacecraft successfully operated to Jupiter, Saturn,
and beyond.
|
|
SNAP-19
|
Viking
1
|
Mars Surface
|
8-20-75
|
RTGs
operated for over 6 years until lander was shut down.
|
|
SNAP-19
|
Viking 2
|
Mars Surface
|
9-9-75
|
RTGs
operated for over 4 years until relay link was lost.
|
|
MHW-RTG
|
LES 8
|
Communications
|
3-14-76
|
RTGs
still operating.
|
|
MHW-RTG
|
LES 9
|
Communications
|
3-14-76
|
RTGs
still operating.
|
|
MHW-RTG
|
Voyager
2
|
Planetary
|
8-20-77
|
RTGs
still operating. Spacecraft successfully operated to Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune, and beyond.
|
|
MHW-RTG
|
Voyager 1
|
Planetary
|
9-5-77
|
RTGs
still operating. Spacecraft successfully operated to Jupiter, Saturn,
and beyond.
|
|
GPHS-RTG
|
Galileo
|
Planetary
|
10-8-89
|
RTGs
still operating. Spacecraft en route to Jupiter.
|
|
GPHS-RTG
|
Ulysses
|
Planetary/Solar
|
10-6-90
|
RTG
still operating. Spacecraft en route to solar polar flyby.
|
|
GPHS-RTG
|
Cassini
|
Planetary
|
10-15-97
|
RTG
still operating. Spacecraft en route to Saturn.
|
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