How do Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) generate electrical energy?

Answer

They convert the heat produced by the natural decay of plutonium-238 using thermocouples.

Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) operate based on harnessing the constant heat byproduct of radioactive decay, typically from the isotope plutonium-238. This heat is essential because it establishes a significant temperature differential across specialized devices called thermocouples. Thermocouples function by exploiting the Seebeck effect: when there is a sustained temperature difference between the hot side (facing the decaying core) and the cold side (facing the spacecraft's exterior), an electrical voltage is generated. This continuous, passive conversion process allows RTGs to provide reliable electrical power for missions lasting decades, independent of solar illumination.

How do Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) generate electrical energy?

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