Scientists and engineers from Los Alamos, NASA, and National Security Technologies, LLC, have successfully performed a nuclear fission experiment called DUFF, proving the concept of uranium-fission-powered interplanetary space exploration. Providing about 5–7 times more electrical power than most spacecraft have available, a DUFF-like power system would enable spacecraft to carry more, and more power-consuming, scientific instruments. The system relies on a heat pipe—another Los Alamos invention—to carry heat away form the reactor using no moving parts and deliver it to a simple, reliable Stirling engine system, which generates electricity from the heat energy.

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