• The Perseverance rover, headed for Mars this summer, carries a plutonium isotope produced at ORNL, the first domestic production in about 30 years. As it decays, Pu-238 will power the rover and its instruments across the planet. Credit: NASA

    ORNL-produced plutonium-238 to help power Perseverance on Mars

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Melton Valley Radiochemical Processing

We are focused on the production of radioisotopes that require nuclear hazard category 2 facilities, such as the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center. We work in close partnership with ORNL’s Nonreactor Nuclear Facilities Division.