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slide 5 - planets and moons of the solar system

Meet NASA's Essay Contest Winners

The 2018-19 Scientist for a Day essay contest was sponsored by the Radioisotope Power Systems program. Topics this year were Enceladus, Titan, and Europa. To date, these moons have only been explored using RPS-powered spacecraft. MORE ›
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News and Features

With the production of 50 grams of plutonium-238, researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have restored a U.S. capability dormant for nearly 30 years and set the course to provide power for NASA and other missions.
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Oak Ridge National Laboratory Achieves Milestone With Plutonium-238 Sample
Oak Ridge National Laboratory Achieves Milestone With Plutonium-238 Sample
The Department of Energy and NASA, have reached an important milestone towards reestablishing the ability to fuel future space exploration missions.
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A Step Forward in Reestablishing the Radioisotope Power Systems Supply Chain
Why we use use radioisotope power systems to explore and answers to many other questions about the RPS program.
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Man installing parts on a spacecraft.
Frequently Asked Questions

Why RPS?

For more than five decades, radioisotope power systems have played a critical role in the exploration of space, enabling missions of scientific discovery to destinations across the solar system. › More

Power and Thermal Systems

Technology

Missions

Why RPS?

For more than five decades, radioisotope power systems have played a critical role in the exploration of space, enabling missions of scientific discovery to destinations across the solar system. › More

Power and Thermal Systems

Technology

Missions

MMRTG Mission Planner Data Package

Available to qualified applicants.

More Galleries

  • Images

    Explore some of the amazing views of distant worlds that RPS technology has enabled.

  • Missions

    Read about the exploration enabled by radioisotope power systems.

  • Videos

    Watch videos that explain RPS technology and showcase mission highlights.