U.S. Starts Making Plutonium

Short form: after a 25 year lapse, the DOE is finally back in the business of making plutonium-238 for NASA radioisotope thermionic generators. The US stopped making PU-238 for NASA in the late 1980’s due to environmental concerns, and unwisely turned to Russia for this vital resource. After Russia also got out of the PU-238 production biz, NASA has been left with a dwindling stockpile, with future missions endangered. Looks like they’re targeting 1.5 kilograms per year of new PU-238 production. Woo!

An interesting presentation on NASA plans for PU – production and utilization – is HERE.