NASA

Lunar Orbiter 1 was a pioneering spacecraft launched by NASA on August 10, 1966, as part of the United States’ Lunar Orbiter program. This mission was significant because it was the first U.S. spacecraft to orbit the Moon and one of the initial steps in gathering critical information for the upcoming Apollo missions, which eventually … Read more

The power system on Voyager 2 relies on radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), which convert heat generated by the natural decay of radioactive material (plutonium-238) into electricity. This power system was chosen because of its ability to function in deep space, where solar energy is insufficient. Here’s a breakdown of the power system: RTGs on Voyager … Read more