Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science

Black spot on Jupiter from a nuclear explosion?
Greg — (archived)

There's been an interesting discussion going on as to whether the Galileo probe caused the black spot on Jupiter. Someone may have decided to try this to see what happened.

The Galileo Spacecraft is powered by two different means, its thrust propellant, used for trajectory adjustments, and its main power supply for running instruments. The latter is 238Pu, or Plutonium-238. This 238Pu is what is known as a radioisotope, or radioactive isotope, which becomes physically hot from its own radioactive decay. This heat is converted into electricity by a thermoelectric converter. At time of takeoff the spacecraft contained more than 48 lbs. of Plutonium-238 dioxide fuel within 144 one-inch diameter x 1½ inch long cylindrical pellets. Each pellet has about 1/3 lb. of plutonium fuel, most of which is plutonium and a small amount being oxygen. In addition, there are some minor amounts of 238Pu for other heater areas. The pellets are divided into two even groups of 72, each group within an RTG (Radioisotope Thermo-electric Generator) of which there are two on the spacecraft. Each is mounted on a 16-foot boom that extends away from the other instruments to prevent their malfunction.

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