A single gram of 210Po generates 140 watts of power. Because it emits many alpha particles, which are stopped within a very short distance in
dense media and release their energy, 210Po has been used as a lightweight heat source to power thermoelectric cells in artificial
satellites; for instance, 210Po heat source was also used in each of the Lunokhod rovers deployed on the surface of the Moon, to keep their internal components
warm during the lunar nights.
|
|