ORNL Helped Cassini Get to Saturn
| The Materials Processing Group at ORNL played a crucial role in the Cassini mission's success. The Lab, under a program previously managed by the MST Division's Peyton Moore and now by Jim King, developed the iridium cladding for the plutonium fuel cells that power the spacecraft's instruments. The radioisotope thermoelectric generators convert heat from the cells' plutonium oxide fuel into electricity to power the spacecraft's systems. | |
The iridium cladding design is extremely impact resistant, providing a necessary safety feature in the event of a
liftoff failure or unplanned reentry during a gravitational-assist flyby.
 |
Most of the Lab's work for the Saturn mission occurred years ago. Cassini-Huygens lifted off without incident in 1997. "People worked their tails off on that project," says Peyton, now comfortably retired in Oliver Springs. But ORNL is still bound for space: Fuel-cell components are now made at ORNL in Bldg. 2525 for upcoming deep space missions, including NASA's New Horizon mission to Pluto and beyond, set for 2006. |
