/sci/ - Science & Math

>>9794991
The Martian exaggerates some things for interest's sake. Wind toppling things for example.

RTG is useful for probes and small sorties Apollo style (pic related). But as energy source for a base it is not. In addition, the stock of RTGs is running really low due to lack plutonium production since the end of the cold war, causing even some outer system probes to resort to the use of panels despite the poor performance there. They are also insanely expensive and not available for private companies to play with.

Nuclear power on Mars would make things tremendously easier, but sadly its simply not available and a lot of money time and R&D will have to be spent to fix that.
In the future, maybe.

>>7986048

It's too late, we've already started leaving radioactive junk there.

Guys how is it that thermopiles create electricity for more than a short period of timein a vacuum? (The plutonium generators used on the moon) Bear with my logic.

Noting that simplistically, you have a nuclear source of heat, an essentially "a source of cold", the difference inducing a voltage;
I assume the cold end requires some means of dispersing the heat that transfers to it out by heat exchange with other particles. Hence the external vanes in the picture to maximise SA:V to increase the efficiency of heat exchange.

In space, one lacks an atmosphere, i.e. particles, with which to perform a heat exchange. Yes there is radiation, but I think that's hardly going to occur at anywhere near the rate the plutonium heats up both ends of the thermopile, and will only occur once the cold side of the thermopile has heated up, meaning you lose a lot of efficiency.

Thus, in the vacuum of space, I wonder why thermopiles don't just hit a critical point where the potential heat difference is great enough that the heat exchange between the cold and hot end cancels out the action of the thermopiles.

Where am I wrong?

Guys how is it that thermopiles collect heat in a vacuum? (The plutonium generators used on the moon)

Noting that, simplistically, they draw heat to one area from another, I assume the cold end requires some means of dispersing that cold out by heat exchange with other particles. Hence the external vanes to maximise SA:V to increase the efficiency of heat exchange.

In space, one lacks an atmosphere, i.e. particles, with which to perform a heat exchange. I'm pretty sure you can't radiate cold, since it's an abscence of heat and not a presence of cold. Thus, in the vacuum of space, I wonder why thermopiles don't just hit a critical point where the potential heat difference is great enough that the heat exchange between the cold and hot end cancels out the action of the thermopiles.

What have i missed?

Did I post this already? Guess not.

Kay, going to Russia, getting degrees in various fields to do with physics, becoming ace fighter pilot and hoping everything goes my way. How hard can it be? I'll give you guys a wave from the moon when I get there.

>>3594530
Yoink! This is now my background.
Here, take my previous wallpaper.