Re:Nuclear fusion: it's time for a reality check
by pfdietz on Wednesday January 29, 2025 @08:53AM
(#42864881)
As far as I know there has never been an RTG powered electric rocket engine. RTGs are extremely expensive per unit of power output. Spacecraft like that ion engine propelled one that was sent to Ceres use solar power.
Re:Nuclear fusion: it's time for a reality check
by notahacker on Wednesday January 29, 2025 @09:07AM
(#42865028)
Voyager and Pioneer used RTGs, as well as some more recent longer range missions and the planned Dragonfly to Titan. Agree that solar has much better unit economics, but I don't see any reason why the same wouldn't be true of fusion too.
Re:Nuclear fusion: it's time for a reality check
by pfdietz on Wednesday January 29, 2025 @09:12AM
(#42865087)
And none of those use RTGs to power electric rocket engines.
(EDIT: thrusters are rocket engines, just very small ones. All those missions used small chemical rockets for maneuvering, using storable propellants like hydrazine.)
Re:Nuclear fusion: it's time for a reality check
by notahacker on Wednesday January 29, 2025 @09:26AM
(#42865226)
Edit: I stand corrected on Voyager/Pioneer exclusively using hydrazine, though you could get similar thrust from a modern HET without needing insane amounts of RTG power, and run other electrical equipment off that extra power when you've reached target velocity and aren't firing the thrusters for attitude control. The higher Isp of the EP system is an advantage too...
(and after it leaves the earth's atmosphere, radioactivity ceases to be a concern)