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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Looking at that diagram - is that a Beryllium Sphere?

Tech Sgt. Chen would be proud...


61 posted on 11/03/2020 3:36:35 PM PST by Old Sarge (I don't trust you. I will never trust you.)
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To: Old Sarge

A Beryllium containment vessel with domed ends.


95 posted on 11/03/2020 6:21:50 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom ("Inside Every Progressive Is A Totalitarian Screaming To Get Out" -- David Horowitz)
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To: Old Sarge
All the technical detail you could possibly ever want is here:

MULTI-HUNDRED WATT RADIOISOTOPE THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR PROGRAM Part I, Annual Report, 1 January 1973 - 31 December 1973

The toughest challenges were to make sure the RTGs didn't break apart if the rocket blew up on the pad, if the rocket failed to make orbit, and if it went into the wrong orbit and crashed back into earth sometime in the future. The RTGs are powered by highly toxic plutonium. There were lots of civil protests against launching the RTGs because of the risk of plutonium poisoning of a lot of people.

96 posted on 11/03/2020 6:26:06 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom ("Inside Every Progressive Is A Totalitarian Screaming To Get Out" -- David Horowitz)
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