WEATHER EYE, THE

Duration: 13 min

Year Published: 1969

Creator: Atomic Energy Commission

Color: Color

Sound: Optical sound

Description: Describes the design, development and fabrication of SNAP-19, a small, long-lived radioisotope-fueled nuclear generator used to supply power aboard a Nimbus weather satellite SNAP-19 supplements the work of solar cells in powering the transmitters and data-gathering instruments aboard the satellite. Shows how the heat from the radioisotope 238 is converted directly to electrical power by means of thermocouples.