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Conference Spotlight
2025 ANS Winter Conference & Expo
November 8–12, 2025
Washington, DC|Washington Hilton
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Latest News
Nuclear News 40 Under 40: The wait is over
Following the enthusiastic response from the nuclear community in 2024 for the inaugural NN 40 Under 40, the Nuclear News team knew we had to take up the difficult task in 2025 of turning it into an annual event—though there was plenty of uncertainty as to how the community would receive a second iteration this year. That uncertainty was unfounded, clearly, as the tight-knit nuclear community embraced the chance to celebrate its up-and-coming generation of scientists, engineers, and policy makers who are working to grow the influence of this oft-misunderstood technology.
Frederick A. Schumann
Nuclear Technology | Volume 19 | Number 3 | September 1973 | Pages 156-164
Technical Paper | Radioisotope | doi.org/10.13182/NT73-A15877
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A fuel capsule vent system was developed and designed for the radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) in support of the upcoming Viking mission to Mars. Helium is continuously produced within the fuel capsule as a result of isotopic decay. By venting the helium external to the RTG, the initial RTG fill gas is maintained for maximum thermal efficiency. This reduces degradation of thermoelectric converter performance and provides the maximum electrical power for the mission. The logic and analysis, which led to the selection of a closed helium storage system, were made.
