The General-Purpose Heat Source Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (GPHS-RTG)has been the workhorse nuclear power source of the space science community for over 20years having powered such challenging missions as Galileo, Ulysses, Cassini and NewHorizons. At ≥300 We beginning of life (BOL) power, the GPHS-RTG is the highestpoweredradioisotope power source (RPS) ever flown with the highest specific power (5.3We/kg). However, recent changes in the design of the GPHS fuel modules would reduce thenumber of modules that could be emplaced in the GPHS-RTG thereby reducing the power.This paper explores several options including modifications to the converter housing and theinsulation that could reclaim the advantages of the GPHS-RTG even with the new thicker,heavier GPHS modules. Coupled with the existence of over 3,100 GPHS-RTGthermoelectric elements (“unicouples”) it would be possible to power future outer planetmissions with the performance advantages of the original GPHS-RTG.
BT - 46th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit, 25 - 28 July 2010, Nashville, TN C1 - Nashville, TN DA - 07/2010 LA - eng N2 -The General-Purpose Heat Source Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (GPHS-RTG)has been the workhorse nuclear power source of the space science community for over 20years having powered such challenging missions as Galileo, Ulysses, Cassini and NewHorizons. At ≥300 We beginning of life (BOL) power, the GPHS-RTG is the highestpoweredradioisotope power source (RPS) ever flown with the highest specific power (5.3We/kg). However, recent changes in the design of the GPHS fuel modules would reduce thenumber of modules that could be emplaced in the GPHS-RTG thereby reducing the power.This paper explores several options including modifications to the converter housing and theinsulation that could reclaim the advantages of the GPHS-RTG even with the new thicker,heavier GPHS modules. Coupled with the existence of over 3,100 GPHS-RTGthermoelectric elements (“unicouples”) it would be possible to power future outer planetmissions with the performance advantages of the original GPHS-RTG.
PB - AIAA PY - 2010 T2 - 46th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit, 25 - 28 July 2010, Nashville, TN TI - Power for Science and Exploration: Upgrading the General-Purpose Heat Source Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (GPHS-RTG) UR - https://cvining.com/system/files/articles/vining/Vining-JointPropulsionConference-2010.pdf ER -