Radioisotope Power Systems

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Radioisotope Power Systems: Mission Need

Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) are long-lived sources of spacecraft electrical power and heating that are rugged, compact, highly reliable, and relatively insensitive to radiation and other effects of the space environment.

Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) are long-lived sources of spacecraft electrical power and heating that are rugged, compact, highly reliable, and relatively insensitive to radiation and other effects of the space environment.

Credit

NASA/U.S. Department of Energy

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NASA selected three winners out of nine finalists in the second annual Power to Explore Challenge, a national competition for elementary through high school students featuring the power of radioisotopes for space exploration.

NASA Announces Student Winners of Power to Explore Challenge

NASA Announces Student Winners of Power to Explore Challenge

NASA selected 9 finalists out of the 45 semi-finalists student essays in the Power to Explore Challenge, a national competition for K-12 students featuring the enabling power of radioisotopes.

NASA Names Finalists of the Power to Explore Challenge

NASA Names Finalists of the Power to Explore Challenge

NASA has selected 45 semi-finalist of the Power to Explore Challenge, a national competition for K-12 students featuring the enabling power of radioisotopes.

NASA Names Semi-Finalists of the Power to Explore Challenge

NASA Names Semi-Finalists of the Power to Explore Challenge

NASA’s second Power to Explore Challenge inspires learning about how radioisotope power systems help us explore the extremes of our solar system. Credit: NASA/Gayle Dibiasio (ATS)

NASA Launches Power to Explore Challenge for K-12 Students

NASA Launches Power to Explore Challenge for K-12 Students

Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) have provided the power to explore some of the deepest, darkest, and most distant destinations in the solar system and beyond. Voyager 1 is NASA’s furthest traveled spacecraft, and its science mission has been enabled by RPS for 45 years.

NASA Celebrates 45 Years of Voyager 1, Enabled by Radioisotope Power

NASA Celebrates 45 Years of Voyager 1, Enabled by Radioisotope Power

Celebrating 45 years of Voyager I and II in space

Voyager, NASA's Longest-Lived Mission, Logs 45 Years in Space

Voyager, NASA's Longest-Lived Mission, Logs 45 Years in Space