Power-generation and heating units using radioactive decay as their primary energy source have been successfully used in space and on Earth for over 60 years. RHU principles and technology are similar in many ways to those of the RTG, but with important differences in objective and implementation. Q: We’ve looked at the use of radioactive […]
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Need a really long-life battery or heat? Try a radioisotope thermal source – problem solved! – Part 3
Power-generation and heating units using radioactive decay as their primary energy source have been successfully used in space and on Earth for over 60 years. This part looks at RTG operation in detail. Q: What’s this about radioactive decay and heat? A: Heat is generated when the natural or man-made unstable isotopes of elements undergo […]
What’s the weather like today – on Mars?
Common question. New planet. It’s April and in the Gale Crater, where the Curiosity rover is currently exploring, that means early autumn temperatures: highs around 10°F and lows less than -100°F reported from its Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS). In addition to air and ground temperatures around the rover, other measurements include atmospheric pressure, humidity […]
The Hubble Space Telescope: Part 4
Part 1 looked at the difficult, costly, and lengthy journey from concept to a successful launch. Part 2 looked at the severe problems of the HST discovered after launch, and Part 3 looked at what has been learned from the Hubble “experience.” The final installment of this story looks at the plans for a post-Hubble […]
The Hubble Space Telescope: Part 3
Part 1 looked at the difficult, costly, and lengthy journey from concept to a successful launch. Part 2 looked at the severe problems of the HST discovered after launch. Part 3 of this story looks at what has been learned from the Hubble “experience.” There are many lessons from this expensive disaster turned into spectacular […]
The Hubble Space Telescope: concept, delay, embarrassment, despair, and finally – jubilation, Part 2
Part 1 looked at the difficult, costly, and lengthy journey from concept to a successful launch. Part 2 looks at the severe problems of the HST discovered after launch. Out of Focus: only the most-obvious problem When Hubble’s lens cover was first pulled back, and the imager saw its “first light,” no one expected picture-perfect […]
The Hubble Space Telescope: concept, delay, embarrassment, despair, and finally – jubilation, Part 1
The stunning images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) (Figure 1) over the past two decades, using a variety of optical instruments and sensors, have transformed our view, literally and figuratively, of the cosmos. But the Hubble’s story is also one of project conception, engineering persistence, joy, misery, embarrassment, improvisation, rehearsal, and eventual redemption. […]
