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Powering NASA's Pluto probe

Spaceflight Now Digital Video
Posted: November 21, 2005

Alice Caponiti, risk communications coordinator for the U.S. Department of Energy, explains how a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator or RTG will provide electrical power for NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto. With the aid of a full scale model she explains how it converts heat to electricity and describes the safety features that would help prevent a radioactive release in the event of a launch accident.

Source: Spaceflight Now (4 min 24 sec QuickTime 6 file)

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