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Power
Source
Spacecraft
Mission
Type
Launch Date
ALRH
Apollo 11
Lunar Surface
14-Jul-69
Status: Radioisotope heater units for seismic experimental package. Station was shut down August 3, 1969..

SNAP-3B7
Transit 4A
Navigational
29-Jun-61
Status: RTG operated for 15 years. Satellite now shut down but operational.

SNAP-3B8
Transit 4B
Navigational
15-Nov-61
Status: RTG operated for 9 years. Satellite operated periodically after 1962 high altitude test. Last reported signal in 1971.

SNAP-9A
Transit
5-BN-1
Navigational
28-Sept-63
Status: RTG operated as planned. Non-RTG electrical problems on satellite caused satellite to fall after 9 months.

SNAP-9A
Transit
5-BN-2
Navigational
5-Dec-63
Status: RTG operated for over 6 years. Satellite lost ability to navigate after 1.5 years.

SNAP-9A
Transit
5-BN-3
Navigational
21-Apr-64
Status: Mission was aborted because of launch vehicle failure. RTG burned up on re-entry as designed.

SNAP-19
Planetary
2-Mar-72
Status: RTGs still operating. Spacecraft successfully operated to Jupiter and is now beyond orbit of Pluto.

SNAP-19
Planetary
5-Apr-73
RTGs still operating. Spacecraft successfully operated to Jupiter, Saturn, and beyond.

SNAP-19
Viking 1
Mars surface
20-Aug-75
Status: RTGs operated for over 6 years until lander was shut down.

SNAP-19
Viking 2
Mars surface
9-Sept-75
Status: RTGs operated for over 4 years until relay link was lost.

SNAP-19B2
Nimbus-B-1
Meteorological
18-May-68
Status: Mission was aborted because of range safety destruct. RTG heat sources recovered and recycled.

SNAP-19B3
Nimbus III
Meteorological
14-Apr-69
Status: RTGs operated for over 2.5 years.

SNAP-27
Apollo 13
Lunar surface
11-Apr-70
Status: Mission aborted on the way to the moon. RTG re-entered earth's atmosphere and landed in South Pacific Ocean. No radiation was released.

SNAP-27
Apollo 15
Lunar surface
26-Jul-71
Status: RTG operated for over 6 years until station was shut down.

SNAP-27
Apollo 16
Lunar surface
16-Apr-72
Status: RTG operated for about 5.5 years until station was shut down.

SNAP-27
Apollo 17
Lunar surface
7-Dec-72
Status: RTG operated for almost 5 years until station was shut down.

SNAP-27
Apollo 12
Lunar surface
14-Nov-69
Status: RTG operated for about 8 years until station was shut down.

SNAP-27
Apollo 14
Lunar surface
31-Jan-71
Status: RTG operated for over 6.5years until station was shut down.

SNAP-27
Apollo 17
Lunar surface
7-Dec-72
Status: RTG operated for almost 5 years until station was shut down.

Transit-RTG
“Transit”
(Triad-01-1X)
Navigational
2-Sept-72
Status: RTG still operating.

MHW-RTG
LES 8*
Communications
14-Mar-76
Status: RTGs still operating.

MHW-RTG
LES 9*
Communications
14-Mar-76
Status: RTGs still operating.

MHW-RTG
Planetary
20-Aug-77
RTGs still operating. Spacecraft successfully operated to Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and beyond.

MHW-RTG
Planetary
5-Sept-77
RTGs still operating. Spacecraft successfully operated to Jupiter, Saturn, and beyond.

GPHS-RTG
Planetary
18-Oct-89
Status: Spacecraft destroyed after completion of mission.

GPHS-RTG
Planetary/Solar
6-Oct-90
Status: RTG still operating.

GPHS-RTG
Planetary
15-Oct-97
Status: RTGs still operating. Spacecraft obtaining information at Saturn.

GPHS-RTG
New Horizons
Planetary
19-Jan-06
Status: RTG still operating. Spacecraft en route to Pluto.

 


 
Program Links

Space Program Overview
------------------------------- Space Program History
-------------------------------
Missions
-------------------------------
Radioisotope Power
Systems (RPS)

-------------------------------
Radioisotope Heater
Units (RHUs)

-------------------------------
General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS)
-------------------------------
Fuel


Program documents

Program Fact Sheet
--------------------------------
Space Radioisotope Power Systems: Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator
-------------------------------- Space Radioisotope Power Systems: New Horizon
Missions (Pluto)

-------------------------------- Space Radioisotope Power Systems: Safety
-------------------------------- Space Radioisotope Power Systems: Stirling Radioisotope Generator


RELATED LINKS

NASA
-------------------------------
JPL