Zeitpunkt Nutzer Delta Tröts TNR Titel Version maxTL Mi 02.10.2024 00:00:06 62.140 +1 3.755.928 60,4 Fosstodon 4.2.13 500 Di 01.10.2024 00:01:13 62.139 +1 3.752.620 60,4 Fosstodon 4.2.13 500 Mo 30.09.2024 00:01:12 62.138 +3 3.749.484 60,3 Fosstodon 4.2.12 500 So 29.09.2024 00:01:07 62.135 -1 3.746.995 60,3 Fosstodon 4.2.12 500 Sa 28.09.2024 00:01:07 62.136 +2 3.745.047 60,3 Fosstodon 4.2.12 500 Fr 27.09.2024 00:01:07 62.134 +2 3.741.982 60,2 Fosstodon 4.2.12 500 Do 26.09.2024 00:00:18 62.132 +5 3.738.514 60,2 Fosstodon 4.2.12 500 Mi 25.09.2024 00:00:21 62.127 +15 3.744.145 60,3 Fosstodon 4.2.12 500 Di 24.09.2024 00:00:00 62.112 +2 3.741.205 60,2 Fosstodon 4.2.12 500 Mo 23.09.2024 00:01:00 62.110 0 3.738.117 60,2 Fosstodon 4.2.12 500
AkaSci 🛰️ (@AkaSci) · 10/2022 · Tröts: 5.317 · Folger: 5.153
Mi 02.10.2024 13:12
The Voyager probes are powered by radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) which convert heat from decaying Plutonium Pu-238 into electricity using thermocouples.
In 46 years, the power level has dropped by over 50% to ~223 watts.
Pu-238 has a half-life of 87.7 years, i.e., in 87.7 years, 50% of its atoms decay to uranium-234 and then to lead-206.
The bi-metallic thermocouples, which are quite inefficient to begin with, also degrade over time, leading to a net loss of ~4W per year.
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Graph of Voyager RTG power level decrease due to plutonium decay only and plutonium decay + thermocouple degradation
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