According to Japanese media reports, NASA has announced a new nuclear fuel "Americium-241" for revolutionary crewed space activities.
With the intensifying competition in solar system exploration, NASA is about to open up a new field of space exploration. This not only concerns the universe itself, but also the "power source" to reach there. The agency has announced a new type of nuclear fuel "Americium-241" to replace "Plutonium-238," which has been used for many years. As a new fuel that is cheaper, longer-lasting, and can withstand the harsh conditions of outer space, it is expected to revolutionize future robotic exploration and crewed missions.
This year, NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, collaborated with the University of Leicester in the UK to conduct demonstration tests on Stirling generators using a system that simulates Americium-241 heat output. The test did not involve actual radioactive materials and could assess performance in real conditions while avoiding contact with scientists.
Different from traditional thermal engines, this Stirling sensor uses a floating piston instead of a crankshaft or rotating shaft. Therefore, mechanical wear is minimized, and it can run continuously for decades. Moreover, its design aims to keep other units running even if one unit fails, which is crucial for deep space missions far from Earth.
Salvatore Ortiti, a mechanical engineer at NASA's Glenn Research Center, said that "close collaboration with international experts has accelerated progress in the development speed from concept to actual aircraft."
The preliminary test results are very positive, and a lighter and more efficient next-generation prototype is currently being developed. We are also considering various stress tests required for space environments, such as vibration, extreme temperature differences, and vacuum.
Americium-241 has attracted attention mainly because of its extremely long half-life of 432 years. This can provide a stable power supply even during long-term deep space missions. In addition, it has the advantages of being easier to procure and lower in cost compared to Plutonium-238. This nuclear power source is essential for the permanently shadowed areas on the Moon's surface and the icy satellites of Jupiter and Saturn where sunlight cannot reach.
NASA has injected new momentum into the research on the space application of Americium, which was previously driven by the European Space Agency (ESA). This concept has now become a reality. In the future, as a generator that can operate continuously for decades without maintenance, it may play a central role in spacecraft, lunar bases, and observation equipment.
Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1841474132136960/
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