MMRTG
E86318
The MMRTG (Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator) is a long-lived nuclear power system that converts heat from decaying plutonium into electricity for spacecraft and planetary rovers like Curiosity.
Aliases (2)
Statements (48)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
nuclear power source
→
radioisotope thermoelectric generator → spacecraft power system → |
| abbreviationOf |
Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator
→
|
| advantage |
high reliability with no moving parts
→
independent of solar illumination → long operational lifetime → |
| application |
Mars rovers
→
deep space missions → planetary surface missions → |
| category |
space nuclear power system
→
|
| countryOfOrigin |
United States
→
|
| designedBy |
Lockheed Martin Space Systems
→
|
| designedFor |
planetary landers
→
planetary rovers → spacecraft → |
| designedForEnvironment |
planetary surface conditions
→
vacuum of space → |
| designedLifetime |
14 years or more
→
|
| developer |
NASA
→
U.S. Department of Energy → |
| electricalPowerAtBeginningOfLife |
approximately 110 watts
→
|
| energyConversionMethod |
thermoelectric conversion
→
|
| firstFlightUse |
Mars Science Laboratory mission
→
|
| fuelForm |
plutonium-238 dioxide
→
|
| fuelType |
radioisotope fuel
→
|
| fullName |
Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator
→
|
| heatSource |
radioactive decay
→
|
| mass |
approximately 45 kilograms
→
|
| missionType |
multi-mission
→
|
| powerDegradation |
declines over mission lifetime
→
|
| powers |
Curiosity rover
→
Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft → |
| powerSource |
plutonium-238
→
|
| provides |
continuous electrical power
→
waste heat for thermal control → |
| regulatoryOversight |
U.S. Department of Energy
→
|
| safetyFeature |
multiple containment barriers
→
robust fuel encapsulation → |
| successorTo |
earlier RTG designs used by NASA
→
|
| supports |
communications systems
→
mobility systems on rovers → onboard computers → science instruments → |
| thermalPower |
approximately 2000 watts
→
|
| usedByAgency |
NASA
→
|
| usedOnBody |
Mars
→
|
| usesEffect |
Seebeck effect
→
|
Referenced by (8)
| Subject (surface form when different) | Predicate |
|---|---|
|
Curiosity rover
→
Dragonfly ("Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator") → Perseverance rover ("Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator") → |
powerSource |
|
MMRTG
("Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator")
→
RTG ("Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator") → |
fullName |
|
Perseverance rover
→
|
abbreviation |
|
MMRTG
("Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator")
→
|
abbreviationOf |
|
Dragonfly
→
|
powerSourceAbbreviation |