MHW-RTG

The Multihundred-Watt radioisotope thermoelectric generators (MHW RTG) is a type of US radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) developed for the Voyager spacecrafts, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2.RTG heat source unitRTG diagram 1RTG unit The Multihundred-Watt radioisotope thermoelectric generators (MHW RTG) is a type of US radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) developed for the Voyager spacecrafts, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. Each RTG had a total weight of 37.7 kg including about 4.5 kg of Pu-238. It uses 24 pressed plutonium-238 oxide spheres and provides enough heat to generate approximately 157 watts of electrical power initially - halving every 87.7 years. Each RTG generated about 2400 Watts of thermal power.Conversion of the decay heat of the plutonium to electrical power used 312 silicon-germanium(SiGe) thermoelectric couples. The initial thermoelectric couple hot junction temperature was 1273 K (1000 °C, 1832 °F) with a cold junction temperature of 573 K (300 °C, 572 °F). Each Voyager spacecraft has 3 RTGs. Collectively, the RTGs supplied each Voyager spacecraft with 470 watts at launch. MHW-RTGs were used on the Lincoln Experimental Satellites 8 and 9. Subsequent US spacecraft used the GPHS-RTG which used similar SiGe thermoelectic devices but a different packaging of the fuel. The MMRTG is a newer RTG type, used on the Curiosity rover.