Nuclear at ORNL: Powering Space Exploration with Neptunium Research

Oak Ridge National Laboratory · January 26, 2026

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Opening: fascination with space

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Unidentified Speaker opened by framing public curiosity about space exploration and scientific goals, saying outer space has long fascinated generations and built curiosity about what exists beyond Earth.

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A researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory described how the lab produces plutonium-238 from neptunium-237 for radioisotope power systems used on deep-space missions and outlined microscopy research to improve production reliability.

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