EXTENDING THE QUALIFICATION LIMITS OF THE GENERAL PURPOSE HEAT SOURCE – RADIOISOTPE THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR (GPHS-RTG) FOR THE NEW HORIZONS MISSION

摘要

This paper discusses the design approach, analysis and testing that was done to extend the qualification limits of the General Purpose Heat Source Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator GPHS-RTG, as manufactured by the Lockheed Martin Co. Six RTGs of this type have been used, to supply the electrical power for Galileo, Ulysses and Cassini spacecrafts. The goal for the New Horizons spacecraft was to be able to use this RTG unaltered. Thus it was necessary to re-qualify the GPHS-RTG to higher temperatures and loads than previous.