Teledyne Energy Systems

Teledyne Energy Systems, headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland and operating as a division of Teledyne Technologies (NYSE: TDY), is the United States' leading manufacturer of radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) and hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells for deep space, planetary science, and lunar surface spacecraft — providing the nuclear and electrochemical power systems that enable missions to destinations too distant from the Sun for solar panels to generate sufficient power.

Teledyne Energy Systems has manufactured RTGs for NASA since the Apollo lunar surface science experiments through a decades-long partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy. RTGs convert heat from the natural radioactive decay of plutonium-238 (Pu-238) — produced in the DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory reactors — into electricity via thermoelectric couples (silicon-germanium alloys and PbTe thermoelectrics), with no moving parts, no fuel consumption, and multi-decade operating lifetimes.

The Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) developed by Teledyne Energy Systems (with prime contractor responsibilities shared with Aerojet Rocketdyne) powers NASA's Curiosity Mars rover and Perseverance Mars rover — generating approximately 110 watts of electrical power at Beginning of Mission (BOM) from a General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) module stack containing 4.8 kg of Pu-238 dioxide pellets. The MMRTG also provides continuous waste heat that warms rover electronics through the extreme cold of Martian nights (below -73°C).

Beyond RTGs, Teledyne Energy Systems manufactures closed-cycle hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells and electrolyzers for spacecraft water electrolysis and power storage, custom lithium-ion battery systems for satellite and spacecraft applications, and electrochemical systems for life support. The company's fuel cell heritage includes systems for ISS. Teledyne Energy Systems competes with its own parent company's other divisions and with Battery Technology Solutions and EaglePicher Technologies for specialized space power applications.