images

Inspecting Cassini's nuclear power source

by

NASA/Novapix

Reference

e-son15-00009

Date

2006-11-24

Jamie A. Keeley uses an ion chamber dose rate meter to measure radiation levels in one of the three radioisotope thermoelectric generators that will provide electrical power to the Cassini spacecraft. This nuclear powered system enables the spacecraft to operate far from the Sun, where solar power systems are not feasible. 06/17/1997