After 75 years, plutonium is still NASA’s fuel of choice
Excerpt from the March 5, 1966, issue of Science News Letter
![plutonium pellet](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/030516_50ya_plutonium_feat_free.jpg?fit=860%2C460&ssl=1)
AGLOW A pellet of plutonium-238 gives off a warm glow. The radioactive element is used to power spacecraft on long-distance missions, and helps fuel nuclear generators in Europe.
United States Department of Energy