Plutonium shortfall could ground NASA fleet

by Stevie Smith - Oct 2 2009, 15:45

With persistent budgetary issues already snapping at the ankles of NASA as it seeks to continue the space-faring advancement of the United States, something much more fundamental to that advancement may yet hamstring the space administration.

According to an NPR report, NASA is in growing need of Plutonium-238, which is an essential component used during the production of rocket fuel. Furthermore, NASA apparently now requires an initial funding injection of $30 million USD because it hasn’t created any Plutonium-238 since the ‘80s, choosing instead to sponge necessary supplies from Russia.

Note the words ‘initial funding injection’ which shift into a clearer focus upon learning that NASA is more likely to require a total of $150 million USD to cover the estimated eight years of production required to appease the administration’s projected demand for Plutonium-238.

Experts have suggesting that NASA has a sufficient amount of Plutonium-238 to see it successfully through its next Mars Rover mission, leaving perhaps enough to carrying out thorough testing on a series of new power generators.

Plutonium-238 is required during the production of NASA’s fuel because of the massive amount of heat it creates during radioactive decay, which is then converted into electricity amid the cold expanse of space.

While The Tech Herald has neither $150 million USD to spare, nor a viable heat-producing alternative to Plutonium-238, we certainly are enthusiastic sci-fi fans and therefore believe reversing the polarity on NASA’s sonic screwdrivers should probably do the trick, no?

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