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Inspecting Cassini's nuclear power source

Environmental Health Specialist Jamie A. Keeley of EG&G Florida Inc., Kennedy Space Center's (KSC's) base operations contractor, uses an ion chamber dose rate meter to measure radiation levels in one of the three radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) that will provide electrical power to the Cassini spacecraft. The RTGs use heat from the natural decay of plutonium to generate electric power. This nuclear powered system enables the spacecraft to operate far from the Sun, where solar power systems are not feasible.

 

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Credit: NASA

Image Number: KSC-97PC-903

Date: June 17, 1997

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Uploaded on June 17, 2022
Taken on June 17, 1997