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Main Question or Discussion Point
Thanks, just curious ever since I watched Prometheus.
One of my professors does a lot of work on attitude adjustment and orbital stability of satellites using ion microthrusters.I did some graduate work in collaboration with the Air force concerning the use of Ion plasma thrusters for satellites.
RTGs are pretty reliable and long-lasting, and might not go out of style until something "better" comes along. The Soviets used RTGs to power remote light-houses, etc, though there have been radiation-poisoning incidents when scrap-hunters have dismantled the equipment and the power-supplies for recyclable metals.But nuclear energy at least provides a lot of energy for the amount of mass you're carrying around.