• MilderRichter@feddit.de
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    10 months 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
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        10 months 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.