Plutonium Dioxide

Plutonium dioxide is a radioactive compound that is used as a fuel in radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) for space missions. It is a ceramic material that is highly resistant to corrosion and can withstand high temperatures. Plutonium dioxide is produced by irradiating plutonium-239 in a nuclear reactor, which converts it into plutonium-240. The plutonium-240 is then chemically separated from the plutonium-239 and processed into a powder form. The powder is then pressed into pellets, which are encapsulated in a protective shell and used as fuel in RTGs. Plutonium dioxide has been used in a number of space missions, including the Voyager, Pioneer, and Cassini spacecraft.

Your Previous Searches

Random Picks

Meteorology: Meteorology is the study of the Earth's atmosphere and its phenomena, including weather and climate. It involves the observation and analysis of atmospheric conditions, as well as the development of models and predictions based on those obs ... Read More >>
Propulsion Test Stands: Propulsion test stands are facilities designed to test rocket engines and their components. These stands are used to simulate the conditions of a rocket launch and to measure the performance and reliability of the engines. Propulsion test s ... Read More >>
Fracture Toughness: Fracture toughness is a measure of a material's ability to resist crack propagation. In space and astronautical engineering, fracture toughness is an important property to consider when designing structures that will be subjected to high st ... Read More >>

Plutonium Dioxide

Your Previous Searches

Random Picks

Top News

Orionids meteor shower is this weekend: Where and when to watch its peak...

Acting or hosting, Travis Kelce wants to continue to pursue a showbiz career. Bu...

Now is a great time to see Saturn in all its ringed glory...

Was Bruce Willis right? Could a nuclear blast save us from killer asteroid?...

China's answer to SpaceX's Starlink is also threatening astronomy...