This Week in Space | Atomic Rockets! - Starlink to the rescue, moon impact mystery, RTGs explained @thisweekinspace | Uploaded March 2022 | Updated October 2024, 14 minutes ago.
We talk atomic rockets and nuclear power sources (RTGs) in space. In "The Martian," Watney used a surplus Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator to heat his rover but real spacecraft, like the Galileo and Cassini probes to Jupiter and Saturn, have used nuclear isotopes to power their vast arrays of instruments. And, the amazing Voyager spacecraft still talk to us from beyond the solar system powered by a small plutonium pellet.
Then we warp into the amazing world of atomic rocket engines or Nuclear Thermal Rockets. In old sci-fi movies, everything cool was atomic and rockets were no exception. But did you know that America and the Soviet Union experimented with fission-reactor rockets, with the US actually testing a fission-powered rocket in Nevada for over 90 minutes? And now, they are back, promising to cut travel times to Mars and beyond. Join Rod Pyle and Space.com's Tariq Malik for atomic rockets!
We also talk about the war in Ukraine and if Starlink can help connect a besieged country. Plus, that wayward rocket finally hit the moon.
Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
This Week in Space episode 1
More Info: twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/1
Download or subscribe to this show at twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space
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TWiT.tv is a technology podcasting network located in the San Francisco Bay Area with the #1 ranked technology podcast This Week in Tech hosted by Leo Laporte. Every week we produce over 30 hours of content on a variety of programs including Tech News Weekly, MacBreak Weekly, This Week in Google, Windows Weekly, Security Now, All About Android, and more.
We talk atomic rockets and nuclear power sources (RTGs) in space. In "The Martian," Watney used a surplus Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator to heat his rover but real spacecraft, like the Galileo and Cassini probes to Jupiter and Saturn, have used nuclear isotopes to power their vast arrays of instruments. And, the amazing Voyager spacecraft still talk to us from beyond the solar system powered by a small plutonium pellet.
Then we warp into the amazing world of atomic rocket engines or Nuclear Thermal Rockets. In old sci-fi movies, everything cool was atomic and rockets were no exception. But did you know that America and the Soviet Union experimented with fission-reactor rockets, with the US actually testing a fission-powered rocket in Nevada for over 90 minutes? And now, they are back, promising to cut travel times to Mars and beyond. Join Rod Pyle and Space.com's Tariq Malik for atomic rockets!
We also talk about the war in Ukraine and if Starlink can help connect a besieged country. Plus, that wayward rocket finally hit the moon.
Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
This Week in Space episode 1
More Info: twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/1
Download or subscribe to this show at twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space
Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at twit.tv/clubtwit
Products we recommend: amazon.com/shop/twitnetcastnetwork
TWiT may earn commissions on certain products.
Join our TWiT Community on Discourse: https://www.twit.community/
Follow us:
twit.tv
twitter.com/TWiT
facebook.com/TWiTNetwork
instagram.com/twit.tv
About us:
TWiT.tv is a technology podcasting network located in the San Francisco Bay Area with the #1 ranked technology podcast This Week in Tech hosted by Leo Laporte. Every week we produce over 30 hours of content on a variety of programs including Tech News Weekly, MacBreak Weekly, This Week in Google, Windows Weekly, Security Now, All About Android, and more.
