Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

RTGs: The Silent Power Behind NASA's Deep Space Missions

3/19/2025

34 8

Summary

Story summary

In the vastness of deep space, where sunlight fades, spacecraft turn to radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) for their lifeline. Harnessing the heat from plutonium-238's decay, these ingenious devices have fueled iconic NASA missions like Voyager and Mars rovers for decades, delivering unwavering power without the need for moving parts, even in the most remote corners of our solar system.

1 of 1

Story summary

In the vastness of deep space, where sunlight fades, spacecraft turn to radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) for their lifeline. Harnessing the heat from plutonium-238's decay, these ingenious devices have fueled iconic NASA missions like Voyager and Mars rovers for decades, delivering unwavering power without the need for moving parts, even in the most remote corners of our solar system.