MSL Curiosity #11: Building Curiosity: Mars Rover Power

[Huantans]

once this toy is on Mars safely, it will go on for years and years with this type of MMRTG

[FatManDoubleZero]

Seems to me that a power source that lasts longer than 2 earth years would be the more prudent choice for a robot that costs 2.5 billion tax payer dollars.

[Eddie42023]

@FatManDoubleZero RTG's last for decades. While this particular design is new, it's the same process used to generate electricity for the Pioneer, Voyager, and more recent missions. The other batteries on Curiosity are rechargeable and they will probably last more than two years (and several hundred charging cycles) as well.