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How does radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG, RITEG) work shown in The Martian movie?
I recently watched the movie The Martian and was fascinated by the radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) that was used to power the habitat. Can you explain how RTGs work?
Sure, I'd be happy to. RTGs are nuclear batteries that generate electricity from the heat produced by decaying radioactive isotopes. They work by capturing the thermal energy released by the decay process and converting it into electrical energy using thermocouples.