Next Generation Radioisotope Generators

Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) — The ASRG is currently being developed as a high-efficiency RPS technology to support future space missions on the Martian surface or in the vacuum of space. This system uses Stirling convertors, which have moving parts to mechanically convert heat to electricity. This power conversion system, if successfully deployed, will reduce the weight of each RPS and the amount of Pu-238 needed per mission.

A HISTORY OF MISSION SUCCESSES

For over fifty years, the Department of Energy has enabled space exploration on 27 missions by providing safe reliable radioistope power systems and radioisotope heater units for NASA, Navy and Air Force.

Mission	Year Launched	Agency	Regions Explored
Transit 4a	1961	Navy	Earth- Navy Navigation Satelitte
Transit 4B	1961	Navy	Earth - Navigation Satelitte
Transit 5-BN-1	1963	Navy	Earth - Navigation Satelitte
Transit 5-BN-2	1963	Navy	Earth - Navigation Satelitte
Nimbus III	1969	NASA	Earth - Weather Satelitte
Apollo 11	1969	NASA	Moon Surface
Apollo 12	1969	NASA	Moon Surface
Apollo 14	1971	NASA	Moon Surface
Apollo 15	1971	NASA	Moon Surface
Pioneer 10	1971	NASA	Jupiter
Apollo 16	1972	NASA	Moon Surface
Triad-01-1X	1972	Navy	Earth – Navigation Satelitte
Apollo 17	1972	NASA	Moon Surface
Pioneer 11	1973	NASA	Jupiter, Saturn
Viking 1	1975	NASA	Mars Surface
Viking 2	1975	NASA	Mars Surface
Lincoln Experimental Satelitte 8	1976	Air Force	Earth – Communications Satellite
Lincoln Experimental Satelitte 9	1976	Air Force	Earth – Communications Satellite
Voyager 2	1977	NASA	Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Interstellar Space
Voyager 1	1977	NASA	Jupiter, Saturn, Interstellar Space
Galileo	1989	NASA	Venus, Asteroid Belt, Jupiter
Ulysses	1990	NASA	Jupiter, Sun, Comets
Pathfinder-Sojourner	1996	NASA	Mars Surface
Cassini-Huygens	1997	NASA	Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Titan
Pluto New Horizons	2006	NASA	Jupiter, Pluto, Kuiper Belt
Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity	2011	NASA	Mars Surface

PLANNED PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

FY 2013

Maintain operability of Space and Defense Power Systems related facilities to achieve DOE and Work-for-Others milestones.
Continue development of the ASRG in support of a potential NASA mission.
Complete fabrication of Pu-238 fuel at LANL for a potential NASA mission.
Maintain current RPS safety analysis capability and methods as new information becomes available.
Complete the upgrade of an environmental control system for power system assembly glovebox at INL.
Continue to support development of the Nuclear Cyrogenic Propulsion Stage (Nuclear Thermal Rocket) with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

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