"Revolutionary Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Lightens Interplanetary Missions"
Engineers from the Aerospace Corporation and Oak Ridge National Lab have developed a concept called the Atomic Planar Power for Lightweight Exploration (APPLE) project, which aims to significantly reduce the weight of interplanetary missions by shrinking the size of radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs). The APPLE project utilizes a tile-based design that combines power generation and storage, allowing for flexible power output and battery support. The tiles can be strung together to meet the specific power requirements of different spacecraft. The project uses Plutonium-238 as the isotope and incorporates radiation shielding considerations. While the technical development status and funding of the project are unclear, it presents an ingenious solution for smaller interplanetary missions.