Post by TRACTEBEL

🚀 From isotope supply to deep space mission: how do you secure Europe’s future beyond Earth? 🔎 The European Space Agency - ESA puts the spotlight on the Optimum Pro study conducted by Tractebel with the support of SCK CEN. Our experts leveraged their nuclear expertise to assess Europe’s supply chain to produce plutonium 238 (Pu-238), a key enabler for deep space exploration. Our teams supported the evaluation of production pathways, infrastructure needs, and long-term resilience. 💡 The study confirmed that an independent European supply of Pu‑238 can be achieved using capabilities already in place today. 🌌 Pu-238 fuels radioisotope power systems (RPS) that are vital for providing spacecraft and astronauts with electricity and heat where the sun does not supply sufficient power. Neither Pu-238 nor RPS are currently manufactured in Europe. Ensuring access to critical materials like Pu‑238 is not just technical, it’s about enabling Europe’s ambitions in space. How can Europe best secure its autonomy in deep space exploration? #WeAreTractebel #SpaceEngineering #Innovation #SpaceExploration #NuclearEnergy Brieuc SPINDLER Philippe Damhaut Ruben Van Parys