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Radioisotope Power Systems An Imperative for Maintaining U.S. Leadership in Space Exploration (2009) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix D: Comparison of 238Pu to Alternatives
Pages 43-45

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From page 43...
... Draper, Jet Information on gadolinium-148 was provided for the committee by Propulsion Laboratory, dated February 14, 1989, including attachments pre- Emil Skrabek, Orbital Sciences Corporation, in a paper "Gadolinium-148 pared by the Fairchild Space Company, "Alternative Fuel Considerations" as a Potential Fuel for Radioisotope Power Systems. A Synopsis for the and response to the question "What radioisotope fuels can be used for space National Research Council Radioisotope Power Systems Study Commitmissions if Pu-238 can no longer be produced or procured?
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From page 44...
... 75 alpha Plutonium-238 (Pu-238) 88 alpha, spontaneous fission SOURCE: Department of Energy, information memorandum and associated transmittal memorandum to S-1 from NE-1 on the subject of "Alternatives to Plutonium-238 for Space Power Applications," dated August 4, 1992, Power density/Specific Power Office of Nuclear Energy, Science, and Technology, Washington, D.C., Considerations Table 1, updated.
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From page 45...
... In the final analysis, no other radioisotope is available that The proposed fuel form must be extensively tested to sup- meets or exceeds the safety and performance characteristics port launch safety approvals. The fueled heat source and power of 238Pu, particularly for long-duration, deep-space explorasystem must undergo an extensive analysis and test program tion missions.
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Key Terms

  • specific power
  • power density
  • gamma radiation
  • heat sources
  • space power

  • heat source
  • rps fuel
  • radioisotope power
  • transmittal memorandum
  • nuclear energy

  • information memorandum
  • dated august
  • radioisotope fuel
  • associated transmittal
  • radiation emissions

  • radioisotope fuels
  • form fabrication
  • dose rates
  • produce gamma
  • include fuel

  • integrity addition
  • extensively tested
  • extensive analysis
  • density leads
  • purely process

  • shield weights
  • form considerations
  • spontaneous fission
  • neutron radiation
  • comparable power


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