2019
DOI: 10.1007/s11214-019-0623-9
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European Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) and Radioisotope Heater Units (RHUs) for Space Science and Exploration

Abstract: Radioisotope power systems utilising americium-241 as a source of heat have been under development in Europe as part of a European Space Agency funded programme since 2009. The aim is to develop all of the building blocks that would enable Europe to

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Cited by 69 publications
(48 citation statements)
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“…[4][5][6] Most high-performance TE materials are inorganic semiconductors, which show high figure of merit values [7,8] and have irreplaceable applications as power supply systems in space exploration, such as radioisotope TE generators. [9,10] Nevertheless, traditional inorganic TE materials are mechanically rigid and fragile, thus are not compatible with heat sources with complex surfaces, obstructing their applications in distributed power supply systems, especially wearable electronics.Two main strategies have been developed to address these issues. One strategy used intrinsically flexible TE materials, including conducting polymers, [11][12][13] carbon-based materials, [14,15] and highly plastic semiconductors.…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…[4][5][6] Most high-performance TE materials are inorganic semiconductors, which show high figure of merit values [7,8] and have irreplaceable applications as power supply systems in space exploration, such as radioisotope TE generators. [9,10] Nevertheless, traditional inorganic TE materials are mechanically rigid and fragile, thus are not compatible with heat sources with complex surfaces, obstructing their applications in distributed power supply systems, especially wearable electronics.Two main strategies have been developed to address these issues. One strategy used intrinsically flexible TE materials, including conducting polymers, [11][12][13] carbon-based materials, [14,15] and highly plastic semiconductors.…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…A comprehensive and diverse instrument suite will enable the tremendous interdisciplinary science opportunities described in the previous section. As described in the White Paper by Fletcher et al [1], several challenges must be overcome: the co-alignment of agency budgets and science planning to allow for international partnership missions; the strategy for dealing with long-duration missions (both technology and people) spanning multiple decades; the generation of electrical power via radioisotope decay [40]; the capabilities to return telemetry over vast distances via upgraded ground stations; and the challenge in delivering as much payload to orbit in as short a time as possible.…”
Section: Summary: Future Missionsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…A requalification program will also require coordination with a 2030 mission to protect the mission launch window. ESA is developing an RTG with the novel adoption of 241 Am as the heat source [6]. Although 241 Am has a significantly smaller power density than 238 Pu, its ready availability as a waste product of Pu fission reactors is a distinct advantage.…”
Section: (I) Electric Powermentioning
confidence: 99%