Ameer Randolph
The Voyager spacecraft, launched in 1977, is powered by two types of fuel. The first is hydrazine, which is used to power the thrusters and is also known as attitude control propellant. The second type of fuel is plutonium-238 dioxide, which powers the scientific instruments and communication equipment on the spacecraft. The plutonium is converted into electricity by onboard radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), which feed off the heat generated by the radioactive fuel's decay. In terms of fuel efficiency, NASA estimates that the Voyager spacecraft achieve upwards of 30,000 miles per gallon of hydrazine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of fuel | Hydrazine and Plutonium-238 dioxide |
| Purpose of fuel | Hydrazine is used to power the thrusters and Plutonium-238 dioxide is used to generate electricity |
| Fuel efficiency | 30,000 miles per gallon of hydrazine |
| Fuel economy | 13,000 km per liter (30,000 mi per gallon) |
| Fuel lifespan | Voyager 1 has enough fuel to last until 2040, while Voyager 2's fuel will last until 2034 |
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What You'll Learn
The Voyager spacecraft uses two types of fuel
The second type of fuel is plutonium-238 dioxide, which powers the scientific instruments and communications equipment. The plutonium is converted into electricity by onboard radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), which feed off the heat generated by the radioactive fuel’s decay. The RTGs produced about 470 watts of electricity at launch, but as the plutonium's radioactive decay continues, the RTGs are now producing around 315 watts.
The Voyager spacecraft is incredibly fuel-efficient, with Voyager 2 travelling 7.1 billion km (4.4 billion miles) from launch to Neptune, resulting in a fuel economy of about 13,000 km per litre (30,000 miles per gallon). This efficiency is due in part to the spacecraft's ability to take advantage of the outer planets' gravitational fields, which act as slingshots to increase speed.
The Voyager spacecraft is made up of 65,000 individual parts, many of which have a large number of "equivalent" smaller parts such as transistors. The spacecraft's computer programming allows for autonomous fault protection, with seven top-level fault protection routines capable of covering a multitude of possible failures. This level of sophistication is critical for the spacecraft's survival when round-trip communication is not possible.
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Hydrazine is used to power the thrusters
The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft, launched in 1977, use hydrazine to power their thrusters. Hydrazine is a simple combination of nitrogen and hydrogen that has a low freezing point and a weak ammonia smell. It is also highly efficient, with a fuel efficiency of over 30,000 miles per gallon.
Hydrazine thrusters are monopropellant systems that produce thrust by rapidly decomposing hydrazine as it passes through a catalyst bed. This rapid decomposition greatly increases the specific impulse produced by the thruster. The catalyst bed contains a catalysing material such as iridium, which encourages the decomposition of hydrazine.
The thrusters are designed to operate in both steady-state and pulse mode over a wide pressure range, making them ideal for propulsion systems operating in blow-down mode. They are also equipped with an internally redundant catalyst bed heater and thermal insulation to ensure optimal start-up conditions.
Hydrazine thrusters are commonly used for launch vehicle roll control, upper-stage orientation, and precision manoeuvres. They are adaptable and can be customised to meet specific customer requirements.
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Plutonium-238 dioxide powers scientific instruments
The Voyager spacecraft, launched in 1977, carry two types of fuel: hydrazine, which powers the thrusters, and plutonium-238 dioxide, which powers the scientific instruments and communication equipment. Plutonium-238 is a powerful alpha emitter, which makes it suitable for use in radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) and radioisotope heater units. The RTGs convert the heat generated by the radioactive decay of plutonium-238 into electricity, which powers the scientific instruments and other hardware aboard NASA missions.
Plutonium-238 dioxide, also known as plutonium oxide, is a radioactive material that produces alpha particles. These alpha particles can be easily blocked by a thin piece of paper. Plutonium-238 is not the type of plutonium used in nuclear weapons or as fuel in nuclear reactors. It has a half-life of 88 years and a high power density, making it a very dependable and safe heat source for space missions.
The plutonium-238 dioxide fuel for the Voyager spacecraft was produced at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and shipped to Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) for processing into heat source pellets. These pellets were then sent to the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for long-term storage until they were needed to fuel the Voyager mission.
The use of plutonium-238 in NASA's space missions is carefully regulated to minimize the potential impact on the environment and human health in the event of a mission accident. The fuel is formulated and used in a ceramic form to prevent it from being vaporized into fine particles that could be inhaled or absorbed into the body if ingested. Additionally, multiple safety features are designed into the radioisotope power systems to further reduce the risk of fuel release and dispersal.
The Voyager spacecraft's plutonium-238 dioxide fuel has a limited lifespan due to the radioactive decay of the plutonium. As the fuel decays, it generates less heat, resulting in reduced power output from the RTGs. NASA has implemented measures to manage this decline, such as shutting down non-critical systems and alternating the use of instruments. However, by 2020, it was estimated that there would not be enough plutonium-238 dioxide fuel left to power the heaters, leading to the shutdown of all critical systems.
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Voyager 1's hydrazine will last until 2040
The Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft are powered by two types of fuel. The first is hydrazine, which is used to power the thrusters. The second is plutonium-238 dioxide, which powers the scientific instruments and communications equipment.
Hydrazine is a combination of nitrogen and hydrogen that has a low freezing point and a weak ammonia smell. It is highly fuel-efficient, with an estimated efficiency of 30,000 miles per gallon of hydrazine.
The hydrazine on Voyager 1 is expected to last until around 2040. However, the craft's power supply is dwindling, and by 2036, it may not have enough power to support its remaining instruments. The main issue with the Voyager 1 mission is not the depletion of hydrazine but rather the decreasing electrical power available.
To address the power supply issue, NASA has modified the spacecraft's computer software to reduce the rate at which the hydrazine lines clog. They have also performed a "thruster swap" to switch to less clogged thrusters. These measures aim to extend the life of the mission and ensure that Voyager 1 can continue to send valuable data back to Earth.
Despite the challenges, the Voyager 1 mission has been incredibly successful. With over 45 years of operation, it is one of NASA's longest-running scientific missions. The data and images collected from Saturn, Jupiter, and Neptune have provided invaluable insights into our solar system and interstellar space.
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Voyager 2's hydrazine will last until 2034
The Voyager 2 is a space probe launched by NASA in 1977 as part of the Voyager program. It was launched on a trajectory towards the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn and later enabled encounters with the ice giants Uranus and Neptune. It is the only spacecraft to have visited either of the ice giant planets.
The Voyager 2 spacecraft carries two types of fuel—one to power the thrusters and the other to power its electricity. The propellant used to power the thrusters is hydrazine, a combination of nitrogen and hydrogen. It has a low freezing point and is inexpensive, making it a good choice for propellant. The Voyager 2 included 16 hydrazine thrusters, three-axis stabilization, gyroscopes, and celestial referencing instruments.
The hydrazine in Voyager 2 is expected to last until 2034. However, as the power from the RTG reduces, various items of equipment have been turned off on the spacecraft. Voyager 2 has had to expend more hydrazine visiting Uranus and Neptune, and as a result, some equipment has been shut down to conserve power. NASA has also decided to modify the spacecraft's computer software to reduce the rate at which the hydrazine lines clog.
The Voyager 2 is currently in its extended mission of studying the interstellar medium. It entered interstellar space in 2018 and is providing the first direct measurements of the density and temperature of interstellar plasma.
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Frequently asked questions
The Voyager aircraft used two types of fuel: hydrazine, to power the thrusters and orient the vessels, and plutonium-238 dioxide, to power the scientific instruments and communications equipment.
The Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft used hydrazine to travel a distance of about 4.4 billion miles, resulting in a fuel efficiency of about 30,000 miles per gallon of hydrazine.
The Voyager spacecraft used plutonium-238 dioxide to power their scientific instruments and communications equipment. The initial supply of plutonium generated 470 watts of electricity, which decreased to 315 watts over time due to radioactive decay. By 2020, the plutonium supply was expected to be insufficient to power the heaters and other critical systems.
The Voyager spacecraft's fuel usage was influenced by the distance traveled, the efficiency of the fuel, and the power demands of the various systems onboard. Additionally, Voyager 2 expended more hydrazine fuel than Voyager 1 due to its visits to Uranus and Neptune.
