• MilderRichter@feddit.de
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    20
    ·
    1 year ago

    Deep space probes are already nuclear power sources.

    Right now this is mostly a radio isotope heat source and a peltier device to convert the temperature differential to electricity.

      • WHYAREWEALLCAPS@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        1 year ago

        Not for space craft if what @MilderRichter says is right. To generate power from a peltier you need a temperature differential between the two sides. It is very hard to bleed off heat in space since it’s a vacuum. That means a temperature differential is very difficult to achieve and it takes power to do that. Which would necessitate more of these, which means a bigger or additional heat removal system, which means you need more of these, which means a bigger or additional heat removal system, etc, etc, etc.