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Voyage of Discovery

These animations show NASA's Voyager spacecraft encounters with Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
The mission continues. Destination: interstellar space

Credit

NASA/JPL-Caltech

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Learn about isotopes and radioactive decay, and see how NASA uses the predictable decay of certain elements to power spacecraft in remote locations, including the Mars rover Curiosity.
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Harnessing Half-Life
Harnessing Half-Life
This video contains highlights of Space Shuttle mission STS-34, which launched the radioisotope-enabled Galileo spacecraft to Jupiter. 
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Video showing launch of space shuttle and deployment of the Galileo orbiter in Earth orbit.
Galileo Launch and Deployment
A look at how these small radioisotope heater units are put together.
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RHU Pull-Apart Animation
RHU Pull-Apart Animation
How does a rover keep driving on a planet with no gas stations? Shonte Tucker, Sabah Bux and Rob Manning power us through the ways Mars rovers keep going.
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Podcast: The Power of the Rovers
Podcast: The Power of the Rovers
Information about the nuclear power system that could be used by NASA's next potential Mars rover mission.
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Mars 2020 MMRTG
Mars 2020 MMRTG
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. 
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video with images and animations covering major NASA missions in the last 60 years
After 60 Years, Nuclear Power for Spaceflight is Still Tried and True
See the main parts of the MMRTG -- the power source for the Curiosity Mars rover.
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MMRTG Pull-apart
MMRTG Pull-Apart Animation
There are no gas stations or power outlets in space. That's why NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars — and some other NASA spacecraft that explore the solar system — use something called "radioisotope po...
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Short video explaining how Radioisotope Power Systems enable spacecraft to last longer and go farther.
Spacecraft Power for Mars Rovers (Curiosity & Perseverance)
This video shows the first 360-degree view of the landing site of NASA’s Perseverance rover on Mars, as captured by the rover’s color Navigation Cameras.
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360 panorama taken by the Mars Perseverance Rover
NASA'S Perseverance Rover's First 360 View of Mars (Official)
A quick tutorial on how to use NASA's Eyes on the Solar System.
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A quick tutorial on how to use NASA's Eyes on the Solar System.
Tutorial: How to Use Eyes on the Solar System
A look inside the heat source for all modern radioisotope power systems.
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GPHS Pull-Apart Animation
GPHS Pull-Apart Animation
Highlights from the Apollo 12 mission to the Moon, including deployment of the ALSEP surface science experiments.
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Apollo ALSEP Deployment
Apollo 12 Lunar Surface Experiment Package Deployment
What are radioisotope power systems and why does NASA use this technology for exploring the solar system?
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What is RPS?
What is RPS?
A single RHU passively radiates about one watt of heat. When placed carefully aboard a spacecraft or inside a rover, the heat compensates for cold temperatures in beyond Earth.
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This explanatory video uses mostly artist's concepts of spacecraft at work in deep space thanks to radioisotope heating units.
What are Radioisotope Heater Units (RHUs)?
Sights and sounds from the journey of NASA's Cassini spacecraft, launched 15 years ago and exploring the Saturn system since 2004.
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Cassini: 15 Years of Exploration
Cassini: 15 Years of Exploration
Highlights from Space Shuttle mission STS-41, including the launch of the Ulysses spacecraft to study the sun's environment.
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Ulysses Launch
Ulysses Launch and Deployment Highlights
Hear about NASA's long history of safely using radioisotope power.
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History, Benefits & Safety
History, Benefits & Safety
Historical video file from the 1980s that includes images and video related to safety testing of radioisotope thermoelectric generators, or RTGs
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Galileo RTG Safety Tests
Historical Safety Tests
There are no gas stations or power outlets in space. That's why NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars—and some other NASA spacecraft that explore the solar system—use something called "radioisotope power."
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Short video explaining how Radioisotope Power Systems enable spacecraft to last longer and go farther.
Spacecraft Power (2016) - Archival
The latest in JPL's series of historical documentaries, "Triumph at Saturn" chronicles the story of NASA’s Cassini mission.
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Scenes from the Cassini mission
Triumph at Saturn (Part I & II)
Where no spacecraft has gone before...After more than 30 years, NASA's twin Voyager spacecraft are still going strong and still sending home information.
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Humanity's Farthest Journey
Voyager Spacecraft: Humanity's Farthest Journey
The Seebeck Effect converts the flow of heat into electricity to power spacecraft that explore extreme environments in our solar system and beyond.
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Video with animations demonstrating how the Seebeck Effect converts the flow of heat into electricity, which is the basis for how radioisotope thermoelectric generators work.
How Does a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Work? The Seebeck Effect
If you are a K-12 student in the United States, your challenge is to dream up a new RPS-powered space mission and tell NASA all about it in 200 words or less.
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Two young girls and boys dressed as old fashioned space engineers (white short-sleeved shirt and skinny black ties) outline a student essay content in this whimsical video.
Power to Explore Student Essay Contest 2024
NASA's Curiosity is the biggest robot explorer ever to rove Mars. How do you power something like that?
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Curiosity Rover Power
Rover Power
See how an Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator - a different type of RPS once studied by NASA - would have used Stirling technology to produce power.
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ASRG Pull-Apart Animation
ASRG Pull-Apart Animation

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