[X] My Assistant

[Cugel]

http://www.marsdaily.com/reports/Managing_...ssions_999.html

Michael Meyer, lead scientist for NASA's Mars Exploration Program, spoke at the recent Viking anniversary celebration. One remarkable quote:

"Considering how long the Spirit and Opportunity rovers have lasted beyond their design lifetimes, it almost boggles the mind to think how long MSL could last. It may be there to greet the astronauts when they arrive on Mars."

That's what I call optimism.
I always thought that the lifespan of an RTG was pretty predictable and that in case of MSL it lasted for about 2 earth years. Maybe he's talking about the solar array powered version?

[djellison]

MSL will still have a battery, as all other RTG powered spacecraft have - to allow for peak power useage over and above the RTG output.

Doug

[punkboi]

MSL will still have a battery, as all other RTG powered spacecraft have - to allow for peak power useage over and above the RTG output.

Doug

New Horizons doesn't have a battery...which is why I think it actually has to dissipate the excess RTG power that it doesn't need to run its systems and instruments

SOne can count on the hardcore anti-nuke folks to be at the MSL launch.

Which is pretty funny...considering that all the recent RTG flights have provided some kind of significant discovery during their missions. Not to state the obvious:

Galileo (A possible ocean on Europa)
Cassini (Possible water activity on Enceladus, and maybe Dione)
New Horizons (the first flight to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt)

Not to jinx anything, but if these anti-nuke folks want to stop looking like a bunch of schmucks with lots of free times on their hands, try waiting for something to go wrong on the next RTG launch...and then protest the RTG launch that comes after that one. They'll look less foolish.