slide 1 - Photos of some of the essay's winners

NASA Names Winners of the Power to Explore Challenge

NASA has selected 45 student essays as winners of the Power to Explore Challenge, a national competition for K-12 students featuring the enabling power of radioisotopes. MORE ›

Anniversary

Proud Past, Strong Future: RPS at 60

RTG-powered spacecraft have explored every planet in our solar system from Venus outward—including the weather systems of Earth—as well as the polar regions of the Sun. MORE ›

slide 3 - Illustration of Voyager in space

Engineers Investigating NASA's Voyager 1 Telemetry Data

While the spacecraft continues to return science data and otherwise operate as normal, the mission team is searching for the source of a system data issue. MORE ›

Anniversary

After 60 Years, Nuclear Power for Spaceflight is Still Tried and True

Six decades after the launch of the first nuclear-powered space mission, Transit IV-A, NASA is embarking on a bold future of human exploration and scientific discovery. MORE ›

RPS-POWERED EXPLORATION

NASA's Perseverance Rover Ready for New Science Campaign

NASA's six-wheeled robotic geologist will collect samples as it explores an ancient and now-dry river channel on Mars. MORE ›

Active Missions

Perseverance
Voyager 1

Voyager 1
Voyager 2

Voyager 2
New Horizons

New Horizons: Mission Elapsed Time
Curiosity

4 yrs, 60 days on Mars

News and Features

Six decades after the launch of the first nuclear-powered space mission, Transit IV-A, NASA is embarking on a bold future of human exploration and scientific discovery. This future builds on a proud history of safely launching and operating nuclear-powered missions in space.

After 60 Years, Nuclear Power for Spaceflight is Still Tried and True

The Department of Energy and NASA, have reached an important milestone towards reestablishing the ability to fuel future space exploration missions.

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.

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

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

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.

NASA Names Winners of the Power to Explore Challenge

Anniversary

Proud Past, Strong Future: RPS at 60

Engineers Investigating NASA's Voyager 1 Telemetry Data

Anniversary

After 60 Years, Nuclear Power for Spaceflight is Still Tried and True

RPS-POWERED EXPLORATION

NASA's Perseverance Rover Ready for New Science Campaign

Voyager 1

Voyager 2

New Horizons: Mission Elapsed Time

News and Features

Why RPS?

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

More Galleries

Images

Missions

Videos