List of nuclear power systems in space


This list of nuclear power systems in space includes nuclear power systems that were flown to space, or at least launched in an attempt to reach space. Such used nuclear power systems include:
Systems never launched are not included here, see Nuclear power in space.
Initial total power is provided as either electrical power or thermal power, depending on the intended application.
NationMissionLaunchedFate / locationTechnologyNuclear fuelPower Ref
Transit-4A1961Earth orbitRTG SNAP-3B
Transit-4B1961Earth orbitRTG SNAP-3B
Transit 5BN-11963Earth orbitRTG SNAP-9A
Transit 5BN-21963Earth orbitRTG SNAP-9A
Transit 5BN-31964Failed to reach orbit, burned up in atmosphere.RTG SNAP-9A
SNAPSHOT1965low graveyard orbit in 1300 Km heightfission reactor SNAP-10A
Nimbus B 1968-05-18crashed at launch, radioactive material from RTG recovered from ocean and reusedRTG SNAP-19B
Nimbus 3 1969-04-14Earth re-entry 1972RTG SNAP-19B
Nimbus IV1970Earth orbitRTG SNAP-19
Nimbus V1972Earth orbitRTG SNAP-19
Nimbus VI1975Earth orbit, damagedRTG SNAP-19
Nimbus VII1978Earth orbit, damagedRTG SNAP-19
Apollo 111969RHU
Apollo 12 ALSEP1969Lunar surface SNAP-27
Apollo 13 ALSEP1970Earth re-entry RTG SNAP-27
Apollo 14 ALSEP1971Lunar surface RTG SNAP-27
Apollo 15 ALSEP1971Lunar surface RTG SNAP-27
Pioneer 101972Ejected from Solar SystemRTG SNAP-19 + RHU +
Apollo 16 ALSEP1972Lunar surface RTG SNAP-27
TRAID-01-1X1972Earth orbitRTG SNAP-19
Apollo 17 ALSEP1972Lunar surface RTG SNAP-27
Pioneer 111973Ejected from Solar SystemRTG SNAP-19 + RHU +
Viking 11976Mars surface lander modified RTG SNAP-19
Viking 21976Mars surface lander modified RTG SNAP-19
LES-81976Near geostationary orbitMHW-RTG
LES-91976Near geostationary orbitMHW-RTG
Voyager 11977Ejected from Solar SystemMHW-RTG + RHU +
Voyager 21977Ejected from Solar SystemMHW-RTG + RHU +
Galileo1989Jupiter atmospheric entryGPHS-RTG
Ulysses1990Heliocentric orbitGPHS-RTG
Cassini1997burned-up in Saturn's AtmosphereGPHS-RTG
New Horizons2006Pluto and beyondGPHS-RTG
MSL/Curiosity rover2011Mars surfaceMMRTG
Kosmos 841965Earth orbitOrion-1 RTG
Kosmos 901965Earth orbitOrion-1 RTG
Kosmos 198 1967-12-27Earth orbitfission reactor BES-5 ??
Kosmos 209 1968-03-22Earth orbitfission reactor BES-5 ??
Kosmos 305 1969-10-22failed to leave Earth orbit towards the Moon, burned up in atmosphere 2 days after launch??????
Kosmos 367 1970-10-03Earth orbit, 579 mile altitudefission reactor BES-5 ??
Kosmos 402 1971Earth orbitfission reactor BES-5 ??
Kosmos 469 1971high orbitfission reactor BES-5
Kosmos 5161972High orbited 1972fission reactor BES-5
RORSAT1973Launch failure over Pacific Ocean, near Japanfission reactor BES-5
Kosmos 6261973Earth orbitfission reactor BES-5
Kosmos 6511974BES-5
Kosmos 6541974BES-5
Kosmos 7231975BES-5
Kosmos 7241975BES-5
Kosmos 7851975failed after reaching orbitBES-5
Kosmos 8601976BES-5
Kosmos 8611976BES-5
Kosmos 9521977BES-5
Kosmos 9541977exploded on re-entry 1978 BES-5
Kosmos 1176198011788/11971 Earth orbit 870–970 kmBES-5
Kosmos 12491981BES-5
Kosmos 12661981BES-5
Kosmos 12991981BES-5
Kosmos 14021982Earth re-entry 1983 BES-5
Kosmos 13721982BES-5
Kosmos 13651982BES-5
Kosmos 14121982BES-5
Kosmos 14611983earth orbit, explodedBES-5
Kosmos 15971984BES-5
Kosmos 16071984High orbited 1985BES-5
Kosmos 16701985High orbited 1985BES-5
Kosmos 16771985High orbited 1985BES-5
Kosmos 17361986High orbited 1986BES-5
Kosmos 17711986High orbited 1986BES-5
Kosmos 19001987earth orbit, 454 mile altitudeBES-5
Kosmos 18601987fission reactor BES-5
Kosmos 19321988Earth orbit fission reactor BES-5
Kosmos 16821985High orbited 1986fission reactor BES-5
Kosmos 1818 1987destroyed in high earth orbitfission reactor Topaz-I
Kosmos 1867 1987parked in high earth orbitfission reactor Topaz-I
Lunokhod 2011969-02-19rocket exploded at launch, radioactive material from RHU spread over RussiaRHU
Lunokhod 11970Lunar surfaceRHU
Lunokhod 21973Lunar surfaceRHU
Mars 961996Launch failure, entered Pacific OceanRHU
Chang'e 3 and Yutu2013Lunar surfaceseveral RHU's, RTG