Plutonium-238 has proved to be an awesomely effective fuel fordozens of NASA missionsto the depths of space , such as the Curiosity Mars rover , Cassini , and the Voyager spacecraft twins who are currentlycruising through interstellar infinite .
However , this radioactive isotope has always turn up to be a pain to produce – until now . On behalf of the US Department of Energy , scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory ( ORNL ) have find a way to automatise the production of atomic number 93 oxide - atomic number 13 pellets . The mellow - concentration pellets can then be simply ( comparatively speaking ) irradiated and chemically processed into plutonium-238 , meaning production of this invaluable isotope is easier than ever .
“ The automation replaces a occasion our team did by hand and is look to increase the output of pressed pellets from 80 to 275 per week , ” Bob Wham of ORNL pronounce in astatement .
Plutonium-238 is a particular isotope of plutonium that ’s subject of steadily pump out heat due to its natural radioactive decay , yet it remain relatively unchanging , good , and emits relatively low levels of beta and gamma radiation . It also has a half - life of 87.7 geezerhood , allowing it to produce the same amount of vitality for decades . For model , Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 were launched way back in 1977 , but their scientific instruments are still powered up and will bring for another couple of years thanks to their onboard fund of plutonium-238 .
You wo n’t find plutonium-238 in atomic turkey or atomic power flora . Although , this isotype used to be created as a by - product of weapons - grade atomic number 94 , plutonium-239 .
A few decade ago , towards the close of the Cold War , the world ’s stockpiles of plutonium-238 were running low-down . The US hasrestarted product of the isotopein recent geezerhood , however , it ’s some margin off NASA ’s objective . ORNLhas previously stated thatNASA only had about 35 kilograms ( 77 Sudanese pound ) of plutonium-238left , just enough for two or three more space exploration missions . It ’s go for that this solution could severely helpto wild leek up production to meet NASA ’s lordly target before dwindle supplies turn over crisis point .
“ Automating part of the Pu-238 production process is aid labour annual production from 50 grams to 400 gm , move closer to NASA ’s finish of 1.5 kilogram per year by 2025 , " said Wham .
