2015.B.3.3. PocketRTG – a CubeSat scale radioisotope thermoelectric generator using COTS fuel

Author(s)

Eliott Wetheimer (1)
Lucy Berthoud (1)
Michael Johnson (1,2)

  1. University of Bristol, United Kingdom
  2. PocketSpacecraft.com, United Kingdom

Session

B.3

Keywords

Interplanetary CubeSat, Deep space, radioisotope thermoelectric generator

Abstract

Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTG) will likely be required for interplanetary CubeSat missions to the outer planets due to reduced solar flux – for example, approximately 1% at Saturn compared to that available at Earth. We present preliminary design work for PocketRTG – a 0.5U sized RTG using commercial off the shelf (COTS) Strontium-90 fuel designed to generate approximately 50mW.

Presentation

  • Download slides in PDF format here (<1MB)

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