Nuclear technology, used to power space missions, is helping explore what primitive Earth may have been like billions of years ago.
Equipment powered by radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) has been collecting images and data from Titan, a moon of Saturn, whose atmosphere is similar to young Earth. Studying this information could tell us if Titan is able to support some form of life.
The RTG's ability to produce electricity on its own and perform long missions light-years away shows how far we have come in using alternative-power sources. Three RTGs, which are equivalent to nine 100-watt lightbulbs, will be able to fuel the equipment past its 2008 mission end date.
These generators convert heat from nuclear fuel into electricity. Since their first use in 1961 for a navigation satellite, RTGs have been involved in more than 25 space missions, including the Voyager and Apollo missions.
Author: Stacey Moore
Author Bio:
Products that earn the ENERGY STAR prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. EPA and DOE. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov. Using energy efficiently at home can be as easy as changing a light bulb.
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