What’s a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator?

Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) use heat from radioactive decay to produce electricity. They do not use nuclear fission or fusion and are highly radioactive. They are used in spacecraft and other systems where other energy sources are impractical. They use thermocouples to convert heat into electricity, but are inefficient and expensive. Plutonium-238 is the most […]

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