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NASA to allow nuclear power systems for next Discovery mission

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Citing progress in producing plutonium-238, NASA will allow scientists proposing missions for an upcoming planetary science competition to use nuclear power sources.

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Plutonium supply for NASA missions faces long-term challenges

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While NASA and the Department of Energy have restarted production of a plutonium isotope used to power some space missions, a new report warns of challenges that could threaten its long-term supply.

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The Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee has begun producing plutonium-238, but full-scale production of the spacecraft fuel isn't expected until 2023 at the earliest. Credit: Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Full-scale production of plutonium-238 still years away

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The United States has begun manufacturing nuclear spacecraft fuel for the first time in a generation, but full production of the stuff is still seven years or so away.

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A ball of plutonium-238 glows from its own energy. Credit: DoE

Plutonium Still Scarce, Production Restart Still Slow for Needy NASA

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The U.S. Department of Energy will start producing new plutonium-238 for space missions around 2019, but production will ramp up slowly, and NASA still has not committed to sparing any for small missions.

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