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US DOE delivers plutonium-238 for NASA missions.

Nuclear Engineering International, 21 July 2023

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has shipped 0.5 kilograms of heat source plutonium oxide from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). It will support future NASA deep space missions that rely on radioisotope power systems, such as the upcoming Dragonfly mission. Dragonfly will be powered by a radioisotope power system called a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator.

DOE achieved a milestone in June in its capacity to package and transport plutonium-238, a key ingredient in radioisotope power systems used in deep space missions from Voyager to the Mars Perseverance rover.

This delivery of heat source plutonium oxide was an order of magnitude greater than previous shipments. It was completed in partnership with NASA, who sponsored the installation of equipment to expand ORNL’s packaging capability.

It was the largest shipment of new heat source plutonium oxide since DOE restarted domestic plutonium-238 production more than a decade ago and strengthens the US supply chain. With this delivery, DOE remains on track to meet its average production target of 1.5 kilograms a year of heat source plutonium oxide by 2026………………………………………………………. more https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsus-doe-delivers-plutonium-238-for-nasa-missions-11021754

July 23, 2023 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized