🚀 go-pugleaf

dg@cam-orl.co.uk (Dave Garnett) writes:

>Peering at a cut-away drawing of the Lunar Module the other day
>I noticed what appears to be a Radioisotope Thermal Generator
>mounted on the outside low down.

>Was this intended to power some experiment - I don't think
>that they generate very much power (order 80 watts ?)

>What are the radiation hazards (to the crew) associated
>with such a thing, as I understand that they comprise an
>unshielded lump of plutonium ?

>Dave

I recall watching a live moonwalk on T.V. (before reruns of I LOVE LUCY
took precedence over live lunar feeds) during one of the later Apollos
(color lunar camera) while the astronauts prepared one of the lunar
surface experiment packages.  A pole several feet long was used to 
lift the RTG and place it into the power generator, before carrying
the generator to the deployment site.

While the astronaut was carrying the RTG-on-a-stick, he commented that
he could feel the heat right through the suit.  Was he joking?  I didn't
think so.  There is a vague recollection of an expert network sidekick
talking about how hot it was to Mr. Conkrite.  The temperature that comes
to mind was 1500 F.  Any comments?  Is this value real or just faulty
recollection?

Curt roelle@sigi.jhuapl.edu