The European Space Agency has recently approved funding for a special project to develop batteries out of nuclear waste for use in space exploration.
Representational Image: Walker PayneThe tech, if successful, could allow conducting operations in areas where there is limited or no access to solar energy like the dark side of the moon.
Researchers at ESA are of the belief that they can make use of americium — a radioactive element that comes from plutonium decay to produce adequate heat to warm equipment and generate electricity to power a variety of functions.This will be the first time americium is being used in this fashion, mostly since current batteries run on plutonium-238 and it’s an element that’s rather difficult and expensive to produce. US and Russia hold the majority share for it and US alone barely has enough to power its own endeavours. This…
Batteries Made From Radioactive Waste Could Power Future Space Missions
